Lyft and General Motors are working together closely on autonomous or self-driving cars. GM has committed to invest $500 million in the ride-sharing service and one can imagine that they’re looking into other avenues to further expand their partnership. A new program has been announced for people who would like to earn money by driving for Lyft but don’t own a car. Now they can rent one from GM.
Express Drive is a flexible all-inclusive rental program that provides Lyft drivers with access to cars at affordable rates. The program will be launched in Chicago first later this month and will soon be rolled out in Washington, Boston, and Baltimore as well as other metro areas across the country.
Lyft writes in an official blog post that in Chicago alone, more than 60,000 people applied to drive with Lyft but they didn’t have a qualifying car. Express Drive will help solve that problem by hooking them up with a Chevrolet Equinox rented out by GM.
Drivers will have to pay $100 per week to rent the car plus 20 cents per mile. This is the charge for drivers who make less than 40 rides per week. Those who make between 40 and 64 rides per week have their per mile cost reduce. Drivers that make 65 or more rides in one week don’t have to pay for the rental at all. However, fuel will be on the driver in all scenarios.
Folks who are interested in the Express Drive program will soon be able to sign up for it in Chicago. Express Drive will gradually be rolled out in more metro areas across the country later this year.
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