Ouicar

Established in 2007 by founder Marion Carrette, Ouicar operates as a peer-to-peer car rental platform, conceptualizing a shift from car ownership to car usage. The Paris-based company enables private car owners to generate income by renting out their personal vehicles, while renters gain access to cars at prices often 30% to 50% lower than traditional rental agencies. Ouicar's business model hinges on a 30% commission taken from each rental transaction conducted through its platform, a portion of which covers insurance provided by a partner, Axa.

The service is designed for simplicity and accessibility, allowing users to book vehicles directly through a mobile application. This app-centric approach eliminates the need for physical rental counters. A key feature, Ouicar Connect, further streamlines the process by allowing renters to unlock vehicles using their smartphones, removing the need for an in-person key exchange. This technology is particularly beneficial for owners managing multiple vehicles.

A significant milestone in the company's history was the investment by SNCF, France's state-owned railway company, which became a majority shareholder in 2015 with a 28 million euro investment. This strategic partnership aimed to integrate car-sharing solutions with train travel, making vehicles readily available for arriving passengers at train stations. By 2019, the platform had grown to over 2 million users and listed 30,000 cars across France. In a landmark move for the peer-to-peer car-sharing market, Ouicar was acquired by the global marketplace Turo on June 1, 2022. Following the acquisition, Ouicar continued to operate under its own brand for a period before being fully integrated and rebranded as Turo in November 2023, merging its user base into Turo's global network.

Keywords: peer-to-peer car rental, car sharing, mobility tech, collaborative consumption, P2P car hire, vehicle rental marketplace, shared mobility, France car rental, Turo France, SNCF mobility, Marion Carrette, Benoît Sineau, car-as-a-service, on-demand mobility, transport platform, shared economy, app-based rental, keyless entry rental, rental income, automotive technology