In what is becoming an industry-wide trend, BMW is the latest automaker to join forces with a carpool and ridesharing company.
BMW’s i Ventures division, the German automaker’s corporate venture capital investment team, has just announced a strategic partnership with Scoop Technologies, a California software company that launched in August 2015 that specializes in mobile carpooling. Toyota and Uber have recently paired up, VW and Gett just joined forces, and GM and Lyft have also partnered.
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Scoop partners with companies and government agencies to provide an affordable commuting solution. The app connects people and co-workers who live in the same neighbourhoods and are travelling to the same areas for work with the goal of reducing traffic and saving gas. Users can sign up as a driver, passenger or both. Scoop operates in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and North San Jose and since its launch, more than 40,000 trips have been made.
BMW’s investment will allow Scoop to expand its services to more areas. It’s not clear yet if BMW’s investment will reap other benefits for the automaker.
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