Jaguar Land Rover set to develop Uber rival
VEHICLE manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is reportedly set to launch a car-sharing service to compete with the likes of Uber.
The Financial Times said the carmaker was setting up a new unit to develop UK-first technologies such as valet parking, insurance products and vehicle sharing.
The report said the new InMotion unit was working with former Google employees and if the technology proves viable then it could be followed by massive investment.
The rise of the Uber and it on-demand service is proving a challenge for the modern generation of carmakers and JLR is by no means alone in its efforts to produce a rival offering.
Manufacturers have tasked themselves to find a solution to falling demand in big cities from young people who prefer to order a car for when they need it rather than enter full ownership.
General Motors, Peugeot Citroen, Mercedes and BMW are all looking at so-called “mobility services” as they look to remain flexible in their efforts to adapt to a rapidly advancing market.
The FT said the new JLR division would be based in London and separate from the main manufacturing operations. It will effectively be an independent arm of the business and look to research new ideas.
Once the technology is proved viable then the intention is to work with joint ventures partners to get the services established.
The newspaper quotes JLR strategy director Adrian Hallmark as saying the firm would look to do some things on its own while for others projects it would merely adopt a small stake.
