Daimler AG Invests in carpooling.com Though Daimler AG manufactures some of the most prestigious cars in the world, it is taking steps to make sure that fewer people drive them.
If you drive one of Daimler's cars, you might drive a Smart, but if you're lucky you drive a Mercedes, and if you're really lucky you drive a Maybach. Whatever car you drive, Daimler wants you to leave it at home and carpool.
The company is investing in the ridesharing network Carpooling.com GmbH, with a view to increase the development and expansion of the network's mobility solutions.
There are 4 million registered users of Carpooling.com across Europe, with an estimated 1 million of them taking advantage of the service each month. It is available on the Internent, on smartphone apps, and on Facebook. It hooks users up with rideshares for both daily commutes and long-distance road trips. User profiles are reviewed by staff, and are rated by those who have taken rides with them in the past.
According to Gigaom, part of Carpooling.com's intended expansion will be into the US market. The company has established a New York office, from which it will be launching its US drive in the fourth quarter of this year.
"We view ridesharing as an important element of intelligently networked mobility," Wilfried Steffen, who heads business innovation at Daimler AG, said in a statement. "Our engagement in carpooling.com is a logical step in offering our customers an even wider range for getting from Point A to Point B. We are pleased that this strategic partnership will enable us to support carpooling.com's growth and further development."
"We are very pleased that we were able to attract Daimler as an investor," said Carpooling.com CEO Markus Barnikel. "As a leading automotive player Daimler will serve as a strong partner in further establishing the role of modern carpooling in Europe and overseas. We will be utilizing the new capital to further improve our offerings, broaden our customer service and make carpooling available to even more users worldwide."
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