Uber kills off Car Next Door brand ahead of US play

Car sharing network Car Next Door will rebrand next month ahead of a roll out in the US next year under its new owner, Uber

The decade-old business was acquired by the US tech giant for an undisclosed sum in January this year and the idea will now launch in the US in mid-2023 as Uber Carshare

The announcement was made during a visit to Australia by Uber’s US-based CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

Car Next Door has continued operate independently since Uber’s takeover, with cofounder Will Davies as CEO, but the brand will disappear on November 8, becoming Uber Carshare, with the app updating with the new name, bringing to a close a ride that’s lasted 10 years since it launched in Sydney.

More than 1.1 million people have booked a trip with Car Next Door since 2013. Since the takeover, the number of cars offered for rent has nearly doubled, with the number of borrowers up 20%.

But the business still sits well behind the car sharing market leader, GoGet, which kicked on in Sydney nearly 20 years ago. Other rival brands available in most capital cities include Flexicar, owned by the rental company Hertz, and Popcar

Davies said the move is about better integration of the the service into Uber’s other offerings to deliver a full range of mobility options.

“Bringing our car-sharing service together with Uber’s range of mobility options means that Aussies can now access a better way to move – whether they’re catching a rideshare for a night out or borrowing a local van to move house,” he said.

“We’re really proud to have developed a technology and service here in Australia that will soon be exported to the world through Uber’s platform.”

Uber ANZ general manager Dom Taylor said they were excited to be launching the concept into international markets.

“Car Next Door is a great Australian success story, and as it evolves to Uber Carshare, we can’t wait for it to be a global success as well,” he said.