White Car launches app-based Tesla electric car hire

New rental company White Car is launching in London this summer with a fleet of Tesla electric vehicles.

Customers will be able to ‘arrive and drive’ via an app.

Mark Strachan, director of White Car, said: “We are reaching an exciting tipping point in the electric car market, with companies like Tesla paving the way for electric cars to become a mainstream reality. This, combined with the fact that the car rental market in the UK and Europe is often cumbersome, confusing and lacks innovation, means there is a wonderful opportunity to disrupt the sector with the launch of a premium all-electric car hire company driven by a smartphone app.”

White Car’s fleet is made up of the Tesla Model S 90D, with a range of 300 miles per charge.

When a customer arrives at one of the White Car hubs – which will first launch at London Heathrow Airport, the premium quality Tesla will be delivered to the driver personally. The customer will use the app on their phone to gain access to the car, meaning no more lengthy transfers to car hire offices and an end to frustrating long queues at the kiosk.

Those living within 50 miles of Heathrow and all future White Car hubs, who are interested in having a Tesla delivered to their door, will be able to take advantage of free delivery.

Equally, customers will be able to leave the car at any location of their choice for free if it is within 50 miles of the White Car hub. Those based further afield will be able to have a Tesla delivered to their choice of destination or drop off where they want, for the cost of a day’s rental.

There will be one highly competitive, flat, all-in price of £149 per day, inclusive of VAT, which White Car claims is cheaper than hiring a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E Class from an established car rental company.

White Car will be seeking to raise £250,000 via Crowdcube for 33% of the company. The business projects that by the end of the third year it will have 20 outlets across the UK and Germany with a turnover of £20.8m. By reducing operating costs by 13% compared to the traditional car hire operators, White Car forecasts a pre-tax profit of over £6m by the end of year three.

Strachan added: “Our nimble model allows us to operate with substantially reduced overheads than traditional operators. This in turn means we can expand to new hubs quickly and provide a premium service with more convenience at a highly competitive price. It also ensures that we can project significant returns for investors.”  

While White Car will initially open with a base at Heathrow, it will look to expand into further sites in the UK and to Germany within the first year.