Team-BHP > Street Experiences


Reply
  Search this Thread
23,446 views
Old 23rd December 2013, 12:57   #1
Senior - BHPian
 
parrys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Thane - Mumbai
Posts: 1,566
Thanked: 7,779 Times
Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

NextEra Motoservices Pvt Ltd. has launched a new transport service; www.carswappings.com.

www.carswappings.com helps you swap your car with a similar one owned by someone else in another city, where you wish to travel.

www.carswappings.com connects you to your Host (at your visiting destination) who can offer you their chauffeur driven car anywhere & anytime. www.carswappings.com aims to cater its services to 200 major cities and towns pan India. They will start swapping cars from 26th January, 2014.

Seen at the launch were Aman Verma who is the face of www.carswappings.com, along with actress Manjari Phadnis:
Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India-1.jpg

The System:

Anyone who owns a chauffeur-driven car can become a member, as a Guest and / or Host.

The service is totally free and no money transactions are involved. Instead, the website uses a Points System. You need 3 points in your account for using a car. You can become a Host to earn points by providing your Car in your own city.

Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India-untitled.png

For more details : Click here

Last edited by GTO : 24th December 2013 at 12:06.
parrys is offline   (3) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 13:15   #2
Senior - BHPian
 
raj_5004's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dubai/Mumbai
Posts: 5,238
Thanked: 3,137 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

I would not allow anyone else to drive or use my car, to be very honest!

I like the idea, but I love my car more. I take care of it and dont want to leave it at any other user's whims and fancies!



Note from Mod:
This is for chauffer-driven cars only. The article above has been updated to be clearer. A few other replies based on this misunderstanding have been deleted, as they are no longer relevant. Sorry for the confusion!

Last edited by Rehaan : 26th December 2013 at 15:32. Reason: Adding a note...
raj_5004 is offline   (15) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 13:57   #3
Senior - BHPian
 
1100D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Calcutta
Posts: 4,390
Thanked: 4,068 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

If I were to go to an alien city, for my convenience, I will simply book a car from the many car rental companies that have counters at airports and railway stations. Besides this, there are also yellow board cars available outside.

Besides this, will not be comfortable letting my car to someone with unverified antecedents. Its a different matter that there are many non-enthusiasts who might not be too attached to their vehicles to not allow strangers using them.
1100D is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 14:04   #4
Distinguished - BHPian
 
ninjatalli's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 3,786
Thanked: 15,371 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

I have been doing this for quite some time with my closest friends. The unsaid (or said) conditions are quite simple

1. We know & trust each other very well
2. We trust the other one in & out in driving one's car (matters wrt petrol/diesel/etc)
3. We treat the car like our own
4. Any damage/issues are to be handled by the (borrower/) driver

I have used my friends' cars in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore & Pune and visa versa these guys have used my car in Pune/Mumbai. So far the usage has primarily been within city areas, but neither of us have ever put such a condition on the usage. The cars vary - Punto/Swift/Corsa/Vento/Figo have been used in the past.

I'm not one advocating or against this - primarily it's a matter of trust over everything else. Potentially a lot of problems can happen, but they can happen when I'm in the driver/passenger seat too. I (and I believe I can speak for my friends) see no issues in taking up this risk and the benefits of having your "own" car in a different city are IMMENSE.
ninjatalli is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 14:13   #5
Team-BHP Support
 
Chetan_Rao's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 5,832
Thanked: 23,955 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by ninjatalli View Post
I have been doing this for quite some time with my closest friends. The unsaid (or said) conditions are quite simple

1. We know & trust each other very well
2. We trust the other one in & out in driving one's car (matters wrt petrol/diesel/etc)
3. We treat the car like our own
4. Any damage/issues are to be handled by the (borrower/) driver

I have used my friends' cars in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore & Pune and visa versa these guys have used my car in Pune/Mumbai. So far the usage has primarily been within city areas, but neither of us have ever put such a condition on the usage. The cars vary - Punto/Swift/Corsa/Vento/Figo have been used in the past.

I'm not one advocating or against this - primarily it's a matter of trust over everything else. Potentially a lot of problems can happen, but they can happen when I'm in the driver/passenger seat too. I (and I believe I can speak for my friends) see no issues in taking up this risk and the benefits of having your "own" car in a different city are IMMENSE.
You make a valid point, and a lot of us have been in that boat. The size of the group we trust may vary person-to-person (usually restricted to family or close friends), but trust is the critical factor, as you mention.

Trusting a stranger would be difficult for anyone who cares about his/her car/bike.
Chetan_Rao is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 14:36   #6
BHPian
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Kalyan
Posts: 48
Thanked: 25 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

Can't Dream of sharing my car with anyone. That too an unknown person from out of town. There are car rental companies to do all that. I wonder what kind of viability study these guys would have done. If they're so gung-ho about it, surely they might have found some niche to work upon.
andy69 is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 14:48   #7
Team-BHP Support
 
Jaggu's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 20,207
Thanked: 15,848 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

eh i think its not available for self drive, you share the car with "your own" driver. That is the key point. And when you use, it will be other car with its own driver. Not a self drive.

Quote:
We connect you to the Host at your visiting destination who can conveniently offer you their car with driver to travel locally. You can also be a Host someday and offer your car + driver to the Guest travelling to your city.
http://www.carswappings.com/

Edit: If i have a beater/regular duty car driven by a driver with me, well why not

Last edited by Jaggu : 23rd December 2013 at 14:51.
Jaggu is offline   (4) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 14:49   #8
BHPian
 
mints21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: India
Posts: 840
Thanked: 1,409 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

The concept is new and is going to fail miserably. Most of the BHPians are car lovers and would never allow their cars to be used by strangers. The driving habits of the strangers are not known. Damages are still repairable but What if the car is used for some unlawful activity? How can one be sure of the credentials of the borrower? Each one of us know that miscreant's can generate fake id's.
mints21 is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 14:56   #9
Distinguished - BHPian
 
SS-Traveller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New Delhi
Posts: 8,161
Thanked: 27,103 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

Lots of indignation in the replies about letting someone else drive your car. But the site is specific about the car being chauffeur-driven - by a chauffeur whom you allow to drive the car anyway all year round.
Quote:
Originally Posted by parrys View Post
Quote:
www.carswappings.com connects you to your Host at your visiting destination who can conveniently offer you their chauffer driven car that shall be at your disposal anywhere and anytime.
If I did employ a chauffeur and needed to travel to various cities frequently, I would be all for the idea.

Edit: Jaggu pointed out the same. Perhaps a poll can be added to the thread.

Last edited by SS-Traveller : 23rd December 2013 at 15:04.
SS-Traveller is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 15:36   #10
BHPian
 
airfoil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 318
Thanked: 81 Times
re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

I hate to let anyone drive my car. I prefer to park and walk in areas where valet parking is necessary. There's simply no way I would ever swap.
airfoil is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 15:51   #11
GTO
Team-BHP Support
 
GTO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Bombay
Posts: 70,335
Thanked: 298,729 Times
Re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

What I like about this idea is the "chauffeur-driven" part. Whichever stranger uses your car, it's still driven / controlled by someone you trust (i.e. your chauffeur).

In every other way, this idea is a bomb. It really has no feasibility in India. The segment they're targeting is way too small; chauffeur-driven car owners who travel frequently, and are trustworthy enough to let their car be used by unknowns. Managing the logistics alone in such an exercise is too difficult, and it's impossible to maintain a certain quality standard.

An innovative idea, no doubt. But wrong market.

Last edited by GTO : 23rd December 2013 at 15:53.
GTO is offline   (4) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 15:51   #12
BHPian
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Ktym
Posts: 431
Thanked: 456 Times
Re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

Quote:
Originally Posted by parrys View Post
www.carswappings.com connects you to your Host (at your visiting destination) who can offer you their chauffeur driven car anywhere & anytime.
Well it says specifically 'chauffeur' driven. So if each car owner can arrange for a trusted chauffeur, then most of the negative points mentioned seem to be taken care of.
revintup is offline  
Old 23rd December 2013, 16:13   #13
Distinguished - BHPian
 
drmohitg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Liverpool/Delhi
Posts: 5,439
Thanked: 7,539 Times

Even with a chauffeur there are two problems :
1. The cars interior are still at the mercy of the user.
2. How will the owner manage without the chauffeur? One may have spare cars but not spare chauffeurs.

In the end I don't see the advantage of all this. You can always hire a taxi at your destination for local travel. Why go through all this pain?
drmohitg is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 17:03   #14
Distinguished - BHPian
 
saket77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Ranchi
Posts: 4,343
Thanked: 11,745 Times
Re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

Going by the posts in this thread, to overcome TBHPians will be the greatest challenge for these type of business ideas!

And yes, I love my car too and won't let anyone else drive it. I don't have the luxury (thankfully) of a Chauffeur!
saket77 is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 23rd December 2013, 17:48   #15
Senior - BHPian
 
Swanand Inamdar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,644
Thanked: 586 Times
Re: Carswappings.com - Car Swapping service launched in India

Just thinking out loud; what if a crime is committed, when "your" car is out for some such social service?
The car is still registered in your name, and by law, you automatically become responsible for the situation.

What then?
Swanand Inamdar is offline   (1) Thanks
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks