Nissan today announced a new digital-first, shared car ownership service which is touted to transform the traditional car-sharing industry.
Using social networking, the Japanese carmaker looks to profile-match consumers to form next-generation car sharing communities through a 100 percent digital experience.
Called the Nissan Intelligent Get & Go Micra, revealed by Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, the scheme will give people the possibility to part-own a brand new Nissan Micra.
Users will be able to sign up starting in December, and then be paired with people in their local area who also take part. Launching initially in the Paris later this year, cars are expected on the road by April 2017, the carmaker said in a release. The service, based on a unique algorithm that uses social profiling and geo-localisation technology, will match compatible owners with complementary driving needs to form a 100 percent digital, shared ownership community. All ownership expenses, including fuel will then be shared within the community based upon individual usage.
The new service is borne out of Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision, which provides a framework for how cars are powered, driven, and integrated into society. With the proliferation of the shared economy model, which impacts everything from cars to food to homes, today’s announcement is a step towards realising the carmaker’s Intelligent Mobility goal.
Commenting on the launch, Ghosn said: “We are moving toward a future where car usage may be more flexible, social and shared. At Nissan, we’re pioneering new ways to allow drivers to enjoy the freedom and financial benefits of shared car ownership. And there is no better vehicle to launch this program than the all-new Micra, which embodies the vision of Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”