SnappCar (Carshare Ventures B.V.) is a Dutch peer-to-peer carsharing company based in Utrecht, Netherlands. The company operates in Netherlands and Germany. SnappCar, being a peer-to-peer carsharing company, doesn't own its fleet.[1] The company's service enables car owners to rent out their personal vehicles, while ensuring insurance coverage.[2]

Carshare Ventures B.V.
SnappCar
IndustryCar rental
Founded2011
Founder
  • Victor van Tol
  • Pascal Onijd
HeadquartersUtrecht, Netherlands
ServicesPeer-to-peer car sharing
Websitesnappcar.nl

Overview

edit

As of 2019, the company was the second largest peer-to-peer carsharing platform in Europe.[3] SnappCar offers some of the rental cars with keyless technology, enabling opening a car through its mobile application.[4][1] While it's technically possible to rent cars on SnappCar as a business, it's barred by the platform, and is actively monitored.[3]

SnappCar has been certified as a B Corporation since 2015.[5][6]

History

edit

The company was founded in 2011, by Pascal Onijd and Victor van Tol. It launched its website on October 3, 2011.[7]

The company raised money through crowdfunding in 2014.[8] and 2015.[9] In 2015 SnappCar acquired a Danish company MinBilDilBil, in turn operating in Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden,[10] bringing its user base to a total of 100,000, and 12'500 offered vehicles,[11] and later that year acquired a Swedish start-up FlexiDrive.[12]

In July 2017 the company raised 10 million for a 20% stake from Europcar.[2][13] In September 2017, SnappCar acquired its German competitor Tamyca,[14] expanding its user base from 250,000 to 400,000,[15] and reaching 45,000 offered vehicles.

In 2018, its investor Europcar launched a joint "Drive & Share" program for long-term car rental with Europcar which offered earnings from the SnappCar rental.[16]

In 2019 the company initiated partnerships with several more car rental companies in the Netherlands,[17] raised funding from Dutch petrol station operator Tango, owned by Kuwait Petroleum International (Q8), while reaching 700,000 users and 80,000 registered vehicles.[18]

In 2020 the company closed its operations in Denmark,[19] raised additional funding, and appointed Erik Rutten, who had been the company's CFO, as CEO, replacing Victor van Tol.[20]

In 2023 the company closed its operations in Sweden, transferring its users to GoMore.[21]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Lalkens, Pieter (2022-05-09). "Sleutelloos kastje stuwt gebruik deelauto's bij SnappCar" [Keyless box boosts use of shared cars at SnappCar]. FD.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  2. ^ a b Boztas, Senay (2017-09-04). "The rise of SnappCar, the business that lets you rent out your car". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  3. ^ a b Frenken, Koen; van Waes, Arnoud; Pelzer, Peter; Smink, Magda; van Est, Rinie (2019-07-31). "Safeguarding Public Interests in the Platform Economy". Policy & Internet. 12 (3): 400–425. doi:10.1002/poi3.217. ISSN 1944-2866.
  4. ^ Ohr, Thomas (2017-06-13). "Dutch peer-to-peer car sharing startup SnappCar raises €10 million in a funding round led by Europcar Group". EU-Startups. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  5. ^ Pouwer, R. L. (2019). "B Corp in het Nederlandse vennootschapsrecht anno 2019 nog een storm in een glas water" [B Corp in Dutch corporate law in 2019 is still a storm in a teacup]. Maandblad voor Ondernemingsrecht (in Dutch). 5 (7): 185–189. doi:10.5553/MvO/245231352019005007001. ISSN 2452-3135.
  6. ^ "SnappCar - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global". www.bcorporation.net. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  7. ^ "DeStadUtrecht.nl - Marktplaats autoverhuur particulieren van start" [Marketplace car rental for private individuals launched]. DeStadUtrecht.nl. 2011-10-04. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  8. ^ Smit, Richard. "Publiek steekt half miljoen in SnappCar" [The public invests half a million in SnappCar]. FD.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  9. ^ de Vries, Dennis (2015-07-09). "Autodeel-startup Snappcar passeert grens van €1 miljoen crowdfunding" [Car-sharing startup Snappcar passes the €1 million crowdfunding mark]. siliconcanals.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  10. ^ Veenstra, Richard. "5 succesvolle Nederlandse Kickstarter-projecten: deel 2" [5 successful Dutch Kickstarter projects: part 2]. ID.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  11. ^ Deppert, Karsten (2015-04-30). "MinbilDinbil acquired by SnappCar". Øresund Startups. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  12. ^ de Vries, Dennis (2015-10-21). "SnappCar op rooftocht, neemt Zweedse startup over #NLtech" [SnappCar on an acquisition spree, takes over Swedish start-up FlexiDrive]. siliconcanals.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  13. ^ "Europcar Group invests in SnappCar, the second largest international peer-to-peer car sharing player in Europe". www.businesswire.com (Press release). 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  14. ^ "SnappCar acquires German peer-to-peer car-sharing platform tamyca - Automotive Technology Insight | Forecasts | Industry News | Supply Chain". autotechinsight.ihsmarkit.com. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  15. ^ Jacobs, Frank (2017-09-20). "SnappCar acquires Tamyca". Fleet Europe. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  16. ^ "SnappCar, Europcar Launch Drive & Share Solution". www.autorentalnews.com. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  17. ^ Klein, Jan F.; Merfeld, Katrin; Wilhelms, Mark-Philipp; Falk, Tomas; Henkel, Sven (2022-04-01). "Buying to share: How prosumption promotes purchases in peer-to-peer asset sharing". Journal of Business Research. 143: 171–183. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.047. ISSN 0148-2963.
  18. ^ "Tango takes share in SnappCar, setting out in high gear". www.tango.nl (Press release). Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  19. ^ van Tol, Victor (2020-04-27). "SnappCar Denmark is closing operations per May 1st". SnappCar Danmark (Company blog). Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  20. ^ Luimstra, Jelmer (2020-10-08). "Victor van Tol treedt terug als CEO SnappCar, dat 2 miljoen euro ophaalt" [Victor van Tol retires as CEO SnappCar, which raises 2 million euros]. MT/Sprout (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  21. ^ Mattsson, Per (2023-03-13). "Bildelningstjänsten Snappcar lägger ner i Sverige – Gomore tar över" [The car sharing service Snappcar is closing in Sweden – Gomore takes over]. Dagens industri (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-01-14.
edit