Can super low prices and unconventional freebies help a digital startup disrupt Singapore’s perennial demand for flexible car usage sustainably?
How can technology and innovation solve a longstanding problem in land scarce Singapore: the high cost and hassle of car rentals and enjoying the flexible use of a private car in general?
Many have tried and failed (or are failing), and even electric-vehicle technology has not made much inroads into alleviating the conundrum.
While ride hailing platforms have disrupted the city’s laggard mainstream cab services, the latest entrant to the car sharing landscape is Shariot. Its launch carrots consist of short-term rentals from as low as S$1 per hour without any registration on membership fees (sans a small deposit), mileage caps or complex pricing and usage mechanisms.
Operating on an app-based platform, Shariot will kick off with a fleet of more than 250 cars in over 85 locations across Singapore, with plans to roll out to around 150 additional locations in the future.
Unique renting points
Designed with a user’s personal experience in mind, Shariot offers high flexibility and usage for its customers. Located island-wide, their fleet of vehicles can be accessed at public housing board apartment carparks, typically minutes from selected MRT stations. Customers will be able to unlock their ride and drive away completely keyless.
Operating on an A-to-A return-trip car sharing model, the system dictates that users will have to pick up and return vehicles at the same reserved parking lots within the same car park. Users are also allowed to drive the vehicles into Malaysia for an additional S$20 charge. Pets are also allowed in the rental cars.
To ensure customer safety Shariot has partnered with a German specialist in disinfection solutions to maintain a functional antiviral surface coating in all its vehicles. Additionally, the fleet will be regularly sanitized and cleaned.
The service app is now available for download on both Android and IOS app platforms.
