Hyundai is collaborating with Car Next Door, one of Australia’s leading car-sharing companies, with plans for owners of Hyundai cars to be able to utilise a new version of Hyundai’s Auto Link phone app, now in development, to list their cars for rent when they aren’t being used.

Using the inbuilt Auto Link unit connected to their phones, Hyundai drivers will be able to rent their vehicles by the hour or day to vetted members of Car Next Door’s peer-to-peer car sharing community.

It will allow them to access and drive other Car Next Door-registered vehicles with their phones, negating the need for a traditional key.

Currently available on the new i30 hatch and Kona SUV, and soon to be available on the new Santa Fe and IONIQ, Hyundai Auto Link connects owners’ vehicles to their phones, giving them information about their vehicle.

The new Auto Link with Car Next Door functionality will be introduced in 2019.

“This capability will be pre-installed and integrated into a new version of Hyundai’s Auto Link unit, making it a simple matter to earn extra funds via Car Next Doors innovative car sharing platform,” said Scott Grant, Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Operating Officer.

“We think it will be a great extra option for Hyundai owners and we are proud to partner with Car Next Door in this fantastic innovation.”

“Fuel prices, economic pressures and rapid changes in vehicle technology are all supporting the development of connected cars and the sharing economy, so you can have a car when you need one, but when you’re not using it, the vehicle is out there making you money,” said Will Davies Car Next Door CEO and co-founder.

“Owners can then factor this income into their regular repayments.”

The company says that, on average, earnings when listing a medium-size car for rent on Car Next Door is just over $3,000 a year, with van owners making $7,500 a year and upwards.

Source: Motor Trader Aug Edition

9 Aug 2018