European car maker launches ride-sharing aggregation platform Free2Move in Seattle
Groupe PSA, one of the largest car makers in Europe, launched its ride-sharing aggregation platform this week in Seattle, Washington. The service, called Free2Move, allows users to compare various ride sharing services to know which one suits them best.
The launch marks the first time the service is implemented in the U.S. Free2Move has expanded to a number of European counties since it first launched in 2016. To date, it operates in France, Spain, Germany, U.K., Sweden, Austria, and Italy.
After Seattle, Groupe PSA is eyeing Portland, Oregon, to be the next market where Free2Move will operate.
"We're pleased to announce today that we will begin our North American operations in Seattle," Groupe PSA Senior Vice President of Mobility Brigitte Courtehoux said in a press release. "As we begin to add more providers and roll out to new cities, Free2Move will enrich the lives of Americans who embrace innovative, non-traditional forms of transportation."
The app connects car-sharing, bike-sharing, ride-hailing, and public transit in one platform. This way, users will be able to compare the services' features and costs. Currently, services like Car2Go, Zipcar, and TravelCar are supported, while bike services like Lime Bike, Spin Bike, and Ofo Bike will be made available soon.
"The decision to launch a service that helps people move around in the most efficient way underscores our commitment to the future of Groupe PSA," said Groupe PSA's North America President and CEO, Larry Dominique in the press release.
Dominique added that Free2Move gives the company a unique way of addressing the needs of customers as transportation and mobility services quickly evolve based on user demands. The company also sees the software platform as a flexible way of rolling out their future products.
Groupe PSA is best known for the Citroen and Peugeot line of cars. While the company remains one of the largest car makers in Europe, its vehicles have not been in the American market for decades. In the future, the company plans to introduce its own cars into American cities where Free2Move will be operating.
