Tripndrive

Tripndrive was a French peer-to-peer car-sharing platform that identified a key inefficiency at travel hubs: thousands of cars sit idle in airport and train station parking lots while other travelers are simultaneously renting vehicles. Founded in July 2013 by François-Xavier Leduc, Arthur de Keyzer, and Nicolas Cosme, the company provided a mutually beneficial service for both car owners and renters. The founders established the company, headquartered in Paris, France, and quickly gained traction by joining Le Camping, a prominent European startup accelerator.

The business model was straightforward yet effective. It offered free parking at airports and railway stations to travelers willing to rent out their vehicles while they were away. If a car was rented, the owner would earn money based on the kilometers driven; regardless of whether a rental occurred, the parking was complimentary. For incoming travelers, Tripndrive offered vehicles at prices up to 60% lower than traditional car rental services. This created a cost-effective mobility solution, making travel more accessible. Revenue was generated by taking a commission on these rental transactions. The company operated in major French airports such as Paris Orly and Charles de Gaulle, as well as several TGV railway stations.

To ensure user confidence, every rental was comprehensively insured by Allianz, and the company verified the identities of all users and the ownership of vehicles. A detailed vehicle inspection with photographs was conducted at each stage to monitor the car's condition. Following its launch, Tripndrive secured seed funding from investors including ISAI, a fund also known for backing BlaBlaCar. However, after a period of operation and expansion to over 30 locations, the company faced financial difficulties. In April 2017, Tripndrive was acquired by its larger competitor, TravelCar, after being placed in judicial liquidation. The acquisition allowed TravelCar to expand its network and integrate Tripndrive's 50,000 users and 8 employees into its operations.

Keywords: peer-to-peer car sharing, airport parking solution, train station car rental, collaborative consumption, vehicle sharing, travel mobility, P2P car rental, shared mobility, car sharing insurance, travel tech, French startup, peer-to-peer travel, cost-effective travel, parking alternatives, car rental marketplace, collaborative economy, ground transportation, mobility services, acquired startup, TravelCar