The peer-to-peer car sharing company Turo has won the first-of-its-kind permit in Michigan to operate its services at the Detroit Metro Airport, the company said Thursday.
In June, the Wayne County Airport Authority Board of Directors approved a permit granting Turo the non-exclusive right to operate peer-to-peer vehicle sharing services at the airport, Erica Donerson, a spokesperson for the Airport Authority, confirmed in an email to the Free Press. She said the reason for the approval was to provide another ground transportation option for airport customers beyond traditional rental cars, taxis or ride sharing.
With Turo, people can rent a car through a website or app, similar to booking an Airbnb. The owners of the cars offered for rentals get to pocket some of the profits from allowing their cars to be rented.
Besides Turo, Getaround is another car sharing service. Both saw a business boost last year when traditional rental car companies struggled to get new inventory during the pandemic and a chip shortage that hurt all automakers’ production. Travelers paid high prices for traditional rental cars. But according to Kayak.com, an online travel agency and metasearch engine for rental cars, prices for rental cars are now at a competitive level with car sharing companies.
Under the airport’s policy, which became effective July 1, Turo pickups and returns are designated at these locations:
- Short-term vehicle parking at McNamara Parking Garage and the Big Blue Deck.
- Long-term vehicle parking at McNamara Parking Garage, the Big Blue Deck and Green Lots.
Previously, Turo hosts − those who own the cars and rent them to others − would have to meet the customers at their hotel or other location for vehicle exchanges. That meant the arriving customer and the host would have to find alternative transportation to and from their starting locations, said Anna Heaton, a spokesperson for Turo. She said the number of Turo host vehicles that will be available at the airport varies by vehicle owner availability.
“We are thrilled Wayne County Airport officials voted unanimously to help meet consumer demand in Detroit with this first-in-the-state partnership,” said Turo CEO Andre Haddad in an email to the Free Press. “Peer-to-peer car sharing not only provides travelers with more options for booking a car, but also gives locals in Michigan the opportunity to turn their own vehicle into an earnings engine.”
Pricing for the daily car rentals varies from an economical SUV or sedan for $35 a day, a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited at $93 a day or a luxury sports vehicle, such as a Lincoln Navigator, for $224 a day, according to Turo’s website.Contact Jamie L. LaReau at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan.
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