The History of the easyCar Club: Revolutionizing Car Sharing
easyCar Club, a pioneering peer-to-peer car sharing platform, transformed the way people rented and shared cars. Launched by easyCar in February 2014, easyCar Club was designed to connect car owners with renters, offering a cost-effective and convenient alternative to traditional car rental services.
easyCar – Entrepreneurial at Heart
The story of easyCar Club begins with easyCar, a British-based car brokerage firm founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in April 2000. Initially, easyCar focused on providing affordable car rental services, with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class being the only rental car available at launch. Over the years, easyCar expanded its fleet and services, becoming a well-known name in the car rental industry.
Launch of easyCar Club
In February 2014, easyCar introduced easyCar Club, a peer-to-peer rental scheme that allowed members to rent under-used private cars from one another. This innovative approach aimed to make better use of the cars on UK roads, providing car owners with an opportunity to earn extra income while offering renters a more flexible and affordable option.
Growth and Development
easyCar Club quickly gained popularity, attracting a growing community of car owners and renters. The platform’s user-friendly interface and secure transaction system made it easy for members to list their cars, find available vehicles, and book rentals with confidence. Comprehensive insurance coverage and 24/7 roadside assistance ensured that both car owners and renters had peace of mind during every transaction.
Challenges and Changes
Despite its success, easyCar Club faced challenges along the way. On December 1, 2018, the platform stopped accepting bookings due to difficulties in reaching an agreement with an insurer. This setback led to a significant change in the company’s direction.
Acquisition by Turo
In December 2018, easyCar Club announced that it was ceasing operations to join forces with Turo, a leading peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace. This transfer marked a new chapter for easyCar Club members, who were very well taken care of and offered incentives to continue their car sharing journey.
Legacy and Impact
Although the easyCar Club is no longer operational, its legacy lives on through the continued growth of peer-to-peer car sharing. The platform played a crucial role in popularizing the concept of car sharing in the UK, paving the way for the sector to expand and continue innovating in this space.
Conclusion
The history of easyCar Club is a testament to the entrepreneurial power of innovation and the potential of peer-to-peer car sharing. From its humble beginnings as part of easyCar the easyCar Club left a lasting impact on the car rental industry. By connecting car owners with renters, easyCar Club not only provided a cost-effective and convenient solution but also contributed to a more sustainable and efficient use of vehicles on the road.
Today, easyCar has kept its car rental operations, and remains one of the leading car rental price comparison services globally. The business has a choice of over 45,000 pickup locations from over 1,700 global and local car rental brands.
But that’s not all, with entrepreneurialism close to Sir Stelios’s heart, the next big idea can only just be around the corner.
