Getaround, the peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace that first arrived in Seattle in 2018, is expanding its operations in the city through a new partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation.
SDOT will provide dedicated parking spaces for Getaround vehicles, the company announced this week, starting in the Madrona, Capitol Hill, and Queen Anne neighborhoods of Seattle.
Getaround offers 24/7 contactless access to shared personal vehicles, which can be reserved for as little as one hour. The company facilitates transactions between car owners and those needing a vehicle though its app, which lets renters find, pay for, and unlock a car. Getaround keeps 40% of the revenue for each rental; the rest goes to the car owner, who can make money from their otherwise unused asset.
“We are glad that more people in Seattle will have access to this transportation option, and will continue to work to foster an environment where innovative mobility companies can try out new ideas and creative business models that benefit the public,” said Becky Edmonds, SDOT’s Shared Mobility Program manager, who oversees the city’s car, bike and scooter share programs.
San Francisco-based Getaround was founded in 2009 and is now active in more than 950 cities worldwide.