Running an errand to a big box store or planning a weekend excursion are about to get easier for some Manhattan residents because of a car-sharing program revealed today by General Motors. It’s the company’s latest move to deliver urban mobility options to customers around the globe.
Let’s Drive NYC is available to eligible residents of The Ritz Plaza, a 479-unit luxury apartment building at Times Square in midtown Manhattan, owned and managed by Stonehenge Partners.
Residents use a GM-developed mobile app to reserve a vehicle and access parking in one of 200 garages throughout Manhattan managed by Icon Parking Systems. The fleet currently includes eight Chevrolet Trax small SUVs and two Chevrolet Equinox compact SUVs, with more vehicles to be added later.
In consideration of periodic apartment lease payments, residents receive electronic credits valid for three hours of rental per month. After that, users pay less than $10 an hour or up to $75 for a 24-hour reservation.
"Having a car in the city didn’t seem realistic, but ‘Let's Drive NYC’ changes that,” said Andy Chediak, a 32 year-old Stonehenge resident. “The quick-and-easy access to a car on demand at The Ritz Plaza is a game-changer that fundamentally alters my approach to transportation, with new opportunities that weren’t previously practical.”
Unlike other mobility service offerings, Let’s Drive NYC leverages integrated and existing OnStar connectivity technologies and services such as remote diagnostic status, and access to OnStar advisors with the push of a button.
“Customers want options on how to move from Point A to Point B that provide flexibility and personalization,” said GM President Dan Ammann. “Let’s Drive NYC is just one part of GM’s global urban mobility strategy. We view evolving consumer preferences, such as car-sharing, as real business opportunities, where we can quickly build on our existing capabilities such as OnStar connectivity to very effectively meet customer needs.”