What chance Holden’s ride-sharing operation coming to NZ?

LIKELIHOOD of General Motors’ Maven ride and car-sharing operation launching to New Zealand could well depend on well it goes down in Australia.

That’s the word from Auckland-domiciled Holden New Zealand today in the wake of Holden Australia determining to expand the personal mobility scheme following the success of a trial across the Tasman.

Our neighbour has enacted the Maven Gig service, which is essentially a leasing programme for drivers of ride-sharing operations such as Uber.

Drivers can enter into a short-term or long-term lease – ranging from as little as four weeks to several months – on one of a number of Holden models, including the Astra hatch and sedan, Trax crossover or Captiva sports utility wagon.

Holden New Zealand spokesman Ed Finn says there is no decision locally about whether Maven could start up here as well.

“We don’t have anything firm to say about it at the moment,” he said.

“Is there interest? We will be interested to see how it works in Australia.”

However, there’s no short-term plan to follow suit here, he said.

“It’s too early to comment on the number of vehicles and scope of the (Holden Australia) programme at this stage but you can expect to hear a lot more in the near future.”

Maven has been operational in North America since 2016.

Finn said GM had a clear global leadership position featuring game-changing tech “and Holden will benefit from that.”

In its own release, Holden Australia described Maven Gig as a “game-changing enabler for the sharing economy”. It plans to offer access to Holden cars for an “all-inclusive and transparent” rate that starts from $A215 ($NZ234) per week.

The Trax LT costs $NZ249 per week, an Astra R hatch is $NZ266 per week, an Astra LTZ sedan is $NZ288 per week, and the seven-seat Captiva LTZ is $NZ332 per week inclusive of all on-road expenses with the exception of fuel and cleaning.

Maven requires at least seven days’ notice to return a vehicle, which includes a $300 bond and a maximum $1000 insurance excess for drivers over 25 should an at-fault accident or other damage occur.

Maven Gig is currently only available in Melbourne and Sydney – although there are plans to expand, with Adelaide the next likely location – and at specific collection points.

Holden Australia says that to date it has more than 350 Maven Gig members on the books and more than 250 cars on the road, covering more than two million kilometres.

Of the 350 members, 37 percent are aged 30 or younger and 50 percent have a foreign nationality, according to Maven.