Mercedes-Benz launches Croove car rental app

Mercedes-Benz’s private car-sharing platform. Image: Daimler AG via AFP Relaxnews

Visit Berlin and you might be able to rent your dream car, even for a day.

Croove, Mercedes-Benz’s car-sharing app, lets car owners rent out their vehicles when they’re not in use. The launch follows a successful four-month pilot test in Munich.

Only available in Berlin so far, cars of any make and model can be registered into the platform. The main conditions are that the car is in good condition, its specifications are listed completely, and it is not more than 15 years old.

To rent a car, registered customers must have a valid driver’s license and should be over 21 years old. To ensure the car’s quality is maintained, customers must fill out a digital checklist before and after rental, and can rate their experience after returning the car.

The peer-to-peer sharing model allows owners to determine the rental fee or have the app provide a rate based on supply and demand. There is a variety of pick-up points, and cars must be returned to the same place.

For an extra price, there is also an option for the car to be delivered to you. While this comes with a key hand-off, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, aims for keyless entry in the future.

The luxury automobile company’s investment in the mobile app appears to be in line with new demands that come with congested cities, where more and more people opt for ride-sharing or rental services instead of owning a vehicle.

This is not a first for Daimler, which has been running the car rental service car2go, where one can rent smart cars and certain Mercedes-Benz models. The service is available in cities worldwide with over two million customers. Niña Guno/JB

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