After Airbnb shattered the hotel industry and Uber upstaged traditional taxi companies worldwide, the next big hit is right around the corner. Rami Jaulus, NGG CEO, predicts that as in previous examples, ridesharing venture Via will disrupt the transportation market – and companies must be prepared
Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of the ridesharing company Via, which recently raised $250,000 in funding from Mercedes, is looking ahead towards new markets: “We want to take over the European ridesharing market.”
Via Ridesharing
Ridesharing is the latest business model that threatens to undermine the decades-old balance in the transportation market. Similar to Uber, Airbnb, and Gett, Via’s new venture is expected to deal a harsh blow to the existing market.
The availability of online information gives customers access to solutions that never existed before, and enables service providers to attract new users. Similar to Airbnb’s online hospitality marketplace, ridesharing providers appeal to users’ lowest common denominator – their pockets.
Ridesharing is in fact a type of public transport. It allows buyers to avoid spending large sums of money on a private car and lets them connect with existing car owners. Car owners themselves also benefit from this model by sharing gas costs and indirectly mitigating traffic congestion.
Another aspect that makes such models so popular is the opportunity for social networking and participation in the sharing economy.
Will cost-effectiveness and social interest encourage a trend that will harm car sales in the future? Is this the perfect answer for certain segments of the population? Or maybe it should be implemented only locally and to limited extent? In any case, it’s certainly an interesting and buzz-worthy wake-up call for the transportation industry.