Lincoln ‘invents’ Uber, but for rich people
If you’re the sort of person who’s used to driving around in a Lincoln, then a regular Uber probably feels like a step down. That’s why the luxury motor company has launched its own twist on the “have other people drive you around” business model. According to Autoblog, Lincoln Chauffeur will let Lincoln owners rent a driver for short periods of time, turning up to your home and then driving you around in your own car. So, you know, it’s Dryver.
When you arrive at your destination, the driver can drop you off and take your ride back home for you, picking up gas or groceries on the way. Then, when you’re done having a great time, you can order a driver to go pick up your car and come use it to pick you up. On the upside, you’ll save on parking charges, on the downside, hiring a person for hours at a time to drive you around probably costs more.
Lincoln has teamed up with another on-demand company, RedCap, to offer the chauffer-based service on the Uber model. Contrasting with the oft-troubled startup, Lincoln is boasting that its drivers will undergo extensive background checks to ensure that they’re not going to ding your car. In addition, if you get along well with a particular individual, you can request them specifically and the company will try to hook you up.
Right now, the service is only testing in Miami, with the rollout expected to hit San Diego in the very near future. Any Lincoln owner can sign up and use the service, so it’s not limited to folks who are Black Label members. Oh, and if you buy a brand new Lincoln, you’ll get a free eight hours of Chauffeur — worth $30 an hour — as a taster.
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