Buzzcar

Buzzcar operated as a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace in France, enabling private car owners to generate income by renting out their vehicles to other registered users. The company was founded in 2011 by Robin Chase, a notable American transportation entrepreneur who had previously co-founded Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing company. Chase's experience with Zipcar, which she co-founded in 2000, provided a deep understanding of the car-sharing market. However, Buzzcar represented an evolution of this model; instead of owning and managing a fleet of vehicles, Buzzcar created a capital-light platform for individuals to monetize their personal, underutilized cars.

The business model was rooted in the collaborative economy, providing the digital platform, insurance, and payment processing that facilitated trust and transactions between car owners and renters. Users could find and rent a vehicle by the hour or day through the company's website or mobile applications. This approach aimed to increase the accessibility and variety of available cars throughout France, not just in major urban centers. The value proposition for renters was convenient, usage-based access to a vehicle, while owners could offset the costs of car ownership. The service included specific insurance coverage to protect both parties during the rental period.

In a strategic move to consolidate the French market, Buzzcar was acquired by its larger domestic competitor, Drivy, in April 2015. At the time of the acquisition, Buzzcar had grown to a community of 100,000 users and listed 7,000 cars for rent. This merger created a dominant player in the French and European peer-to-peer car rental sector. Subsequently, the combined entity, Drivy, was itself acquired by the U.S.-based car-sharing leader Getaround in 2019 for $300 million, furthering market consolidation on a global scale.

Keywords: peer-to-peer car rental, car sharing, collaborative economy, mobility services, Robin Chase, Drivy, Getaround, P2P car sharing, vehicle sharing, shared mobility, France, transportation platform, Zipcar, automotive rental, community car rental, marketplace, on-demand vehicles, sustainable transport