NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 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."
GM offered the program earlier this summer to select Ritz Plaza
residents who completed more than 100 trips and drove nearly 20,000
miles in the New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state area. Based on the pilot
program, GM, Stonehenge and Icon were quick to broaden the
program.
"When GM approached us with their car-sharing program, we were
excited to incorporate this innovative service to further enhance
our residents' lifestyle," said Ofer
Yardeni, chairman and CEO of Stonehenge. "Owning a vehicle
in New York City is expensive and
inconvenient. GM's Let's Drive NYC
car-sharing program delivers a valuable and sought-after amenity,
and residents of The Ritz Plaza are taking full advantage of
it."
Stonehenge is a leader in community-building events within the
Manhattan residential market. It
provides residents with complimentary programming ranging from
comedy and trivia nights to concerts. Incorporating Let's Drive
NYC helps achieve Stonehenge's
goal of offering amenities that encourage interaction among
residents.
GM's urban mobility programs range from investments in
Germany of ridesharing service
flinc and Opel's new car-sharing community CarUnity to testing
Zagster bike sharing at its Technical Center in the U.S. and a
partnership with Jiao Tong University in China to integrate Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 vehicles
into a multi-modal transportation system. All are designed to
better understand and address urban transportation issues for
customers.
One of GM's first mobility partnerships was with Google early
last year, where it tested a commuter ride-sharing service using
Chevrolet Spark EVs. Using an app, drivers and riders were matched
based on trip patterns and schedules. The project demonstrated
value and potential in creating transportation services around
automotive, leading to other initiatives, like the Let's Drive
NYC program.
About General Motors
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce
vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions
in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive
markets. GM's brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well
as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the
company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in
vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at
http://www.gm.com.
About Stonehenge Partners
Stonehenge Partners is a vertically integrated, private real
estate company with expertise in investment management, property
management, development, design, construction and leasing.
Stonehenge owns and manages a Manhattan portfolio currently valued at
$3.1 billion comprised of 25
income-producing properties with more than 3,000 residential
apartment units. Stonehenge is recognized for its above-and-beyond
customer service platform and five-star lifestyle programming. More
information can be found at www.stonehengenyc.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gm-unveils-lets-drive-nyc-car-sharing-program-300152606.html
SOURCE General Motors