Mexico: Ebes is the platform to rent cars per day from a cell phone

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

"Drive without owning. Find a car and start moving." That is the slogan of Ebes, a carsharing service, the category of the collaborative economy that proposes that car owners rent them to other people from a digital platform and in a few steps.

The company was born a year ago and is the only one of its kind within a 2.0 ecosystem that has variants and that is growing more and more in Argentina. It aims at a young audience that is accustomed to the consumption model through digital platforms, who choose to pay for what they use and who, in many cases, prefer not to pay for the fixed costs of owning a car.

"Car rental is a long time business, but these systems allow really low prices. On average, 30% less and much more variety of models. We are a Car AirBnb," describes Juan Pablo Fernández, one of the five Ebes partners, a system that can be accessed from your brand new app or from the web.

"The platform already has 3,000 registered users and 300 cars. In one year we expect to reach 2,000 cars, with an average monthly billing of $ 3 million and 1,500 rentals," adds Mariana Morales, another member. Fernández, Morales and Mariano Mir are in charge of the business and have two other investor shareholders.

How it works

"The app looks for options with geolocation. A range of dates of up to 30 days is indicated, a car is chosen, doubts are evacuated by chat and an order is sent to the owner. They agree on a meeting point, and that's it. Payment is performs with card, online," details Morales.

Ebes charges a final 20% commission to car owners and only 1% to those who rent. "We charge the lowest commission in the market, and pay 72 hours after the end of the rental, something that no competitor does. That payment is made to a bank account or Mercado Pago," adds Fernández.

The average rent is $ 1,500 per day. It is what it costs, for example, a FIAT Argo. There are also high-end vehicles, such as Audi, Jeep and 4 × 4 trucks. A Mercedes Benz, for example, costs $ 3,500 per day.

By renting a week an owner can get for a Peugeot 308 (2017) about $ 6,500; for a Chevrolet Corsa (2016), $ 3,500; or for a Ford KA (2017), $ 5,700.

Owners and customers

"The consumption profile is for short periods. People who have broken their own car or have to make trips nearby. Also for weekend getaways. And we also have utilities. From the other side, they offer to rent people who, for example, they work far and leave cars all day in their homes, standing," says Fernández.

 Car rental is a long time business, but these systems allow lower prices. On an average, 30% less and much more variety of models. 

Car owners register and have to send their own and vehicle documentation, all through the app. Once they are registered, they can decide the daily value according to a range recommended by Ebes, and set delivery and return points (it can be agreed later with the client). Cars must be less than 8 years old, less than 250,000 kilometers, only valid card and insurance against third parties and theft.

"At the time of delivery of the car, the owner makes six live photos necessary for the start of the rental (required by insurance) and agree on the level of gasoline for the return," says Morales. Those who rent have to register, have a license, be over 21 and have a credit card.

"The idea is that a week of rent allows owners, who surely do not use the car every day, generate extra money to pay for their fixed expenses. In general, they would like to earn money, but they do not have the time or desire of being drivers, as in other applications," closes Fernández.

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

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