[bro1999]

***one of the first Maven locations to receive the Bolt, that is

http://blog.caranddriver.com/maven-gms-foray-into-car-sharing-shows-early-promise/

In terms of cars offered, the new, all-electric Chevy Bolt will join the car-sharing service. Ann Arbor is slated to be one of the first Maven locations where they’ll enter the fleet. There’s no precise timetable for the Bolt’s arrival, with Tiderington saying that it would be “soon.”

Also, Maven users seem to like the Volt.....even to go as far as naming them.

Here in Ann Arbor, Maven has become particularly popular with the University of Michigan’s international students, who Tiderington says have gravitated toward the Chevy Volt for its environmentally friendly footprint.

“One of them told us they even had nicknamed it Charlie,” he said. “They said, ‘It’s not a blue Volt; it’s Charlie.’”

 

[16513]

Putting early Bolts in the hands of Maven, Uber, etc. may upset the deposit-paying early adopters, but it makes a LOT of sense from a marketing point of view. Volt marketing has been ineffective for a lot of reasons and this marketing method can't hurt. Also, it is essential for Chevy to sell a lot of Bolts in the first year in order to become the dominant player in the popular-priced pure EV market before the flood of competition hits late next year. The coming year will be exciting to watch. I'm hoping that exploding Bolt sales will pull Volt along, too.

 

[Bacardi]

Curious about the charging situation and including the slow charging Volt...If GM wants to showcase even the Volt's EV range they should keep it all charged up...

 

[dutch husky]

Putting early Bolts in the hands of Maven, Uber, etc. may upset the deposit-paying early adopters, but it makes a LOT of sense from a marketing point of view.

It gets butts in seats (which we know sells cars in Volt's case), but even so I do struggle to understand how marketing your vehicles through a ride-sharing service, whose customers are often people who have no desire to own their own car, is good marketing. Are there more future car buyers among the Uber demographic than what I am presuming?

 

[bro1999]

It gets butts in seats (which we know sells cars in Volt's case), but even so I do struggle to understand how marketing your vehicles through a ride-sharing service, whose customers are often people who have no desire to own their own car, is good marketing. Are there more future car buyers among the Uber demographic than what I am presuming?

I've seen a few instances of prospective Tesla buyers arranging a rental through Turo or a similar service to "check it out" and make sure it is what they think it is before plunking down money. Something a 30 min test drive at a Tesla dealership isn't enough for.

I can see Maven/ride sharing users checking out a Bolt in a similar way. And who knows, people who primarily use ride sharing services to get around might go "Hey, I like this car!" and someone who may not have considered buying a car may look into actually acquiring one after a few rides.

I own 2 cars, yet I still use Lyft/Uber probably once a month on average.

 

[Bacardi]

It gets butts in seats (which we know sells cars in Volt's case), but even so I do struggle to understand how marketing your vehicles through a ride-sharing service, whose customers are often people who have no desire to own their own car, is good marketing. Are there more future car buyers among the Uber demographic than what I am presuming?

To be clear, Maven is the CAR sharing platform, you rent and DRIVE the vehicle by the hour with Maven...There are scenarios where it makes sense but most prefer Uber/Lyft as you avoid the stress of traffic and parking...Also Uber/Lyft offers door to door pickup and drop off service and in a place like MI, the vehicle is already fully heated upon pickup...

I read an article a few months ago that stated that GM plans to allow Buicks 24 hour test drive on the Bolt EV...A lot of dealers will allow you do that, just have to ask...