"Ford has thrown its weight behind a car-sharing scheme

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"Ford has thrown its weight behind a car-sharing scheme intended to shake up the airport parking and car hire establishment.

Carhood is an audacious arrangement offering drivers free parking while hiring their cars out to strangers for a share of the profit.

Having started in Melbourne, the group expanded to Brisbane and Sydney this year with the blessing of one of the world's largest car companies. Ford will supply the car-sharing concern with thirty vehicles spread across the NSW, Victorian and Queensland capitals in warehouses within striking distance of major airports.

Customers can rent a modern automatic hatch such as a Hyundai i30 for about $30 per day – around one third of what Thrifty, Hertz and Budget charge for the same vehicle. Ford's full-sized Everest Trend costs $65 for a day – well less than equivalent SUVs offered by established hire car companies.

Drivers park for free while receiving a 25 per cent share of earnings if their vehicle is hired by fellow travellers. Ford customers get 35 per cent back, as well as a 10 per cent discount when they hire Ford vehicles. The service includes transfers to airport terminals, a free car wash and quick safety check. Insurance is provided by Carhood, which covers vehicles worth up to $100,000.

Sydney customer Angus Bisset occasionally rents out his Fiat Panda using Carhood.

"I looked at hiring a car on Google and just kind of stumped across it," he says.

"I found out that you get free parking so I dropped my car off in Sydney for a couple of weeks. I made the money back and paid for my flights which was great."

Ford Australia President Graeme Whickman says the move reflects Ford's ability to look after customers in the future.

"Ford has one foot in today, delivering our core business, and one foot in tomorrow, anticipating the future needs of customers through our Ford Smart Mobility plan," he says.

"Our unique partnership with Carhood combines both, allowing people to experience our world-class vehicles while making our customers' lives better through easier, more affordable airport parking."

Carhood co-founder Steve Johnson says the service is an efficient use of resources that allows people to save money when parking and renting out cars.

"Australia's airport parking is some of the most expensive in the world - It's absolutely astronomical," he says.

"We know there are about 5000 odd cars sitting idle at the airport at any time. What we're doing is taking these idle cars and sharing them out to passengers."
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...19-gq8yuv.html