Related: Carsharing Company Provides Free Rides in Ad-Sponsored Vehicles
Hyundai, WaiveCar to Provide Free Electric Carsharing Rides
Hyundai Motors and WaiveCar, an all-electric carsharing service that runs on advertising dollars, have announced a partnership that will give consumers the ability to drive the new Hyundai IONIQ electric sedan for two hours at no charge.

Hyundai's new IONIQ electric compact vehicle will be available through WaiveCar's electric carsharing service. Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America.

Hyundai's new IONIQ electric compact vehicle will be available through WaiveCar's electric carsharing service. Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America.
Hyundai Motor and WaiveCar, an all-electric carsharing service that runs on advertising dollars, have announced a partnership that will expose consumers to the all-new Hyundai IONIQ electric sedan for free.
The partnership gives consumers the ability to drive IONIQ EVs for two hours at no charge, according to Hyundai. In exchange, the vehicle is wrapped in advertising and includes a roof mounted digital display, which generates the advertising revenue that WaiveCar uses to offset costs.
"WaiveCar presents some great solutions for us," said Mark Dipko, director of corporate planning and strategy at Hyundai Motor America. "The IONIQ offers emissions-free transportation to on-the-go Angelenos. This partnership allows us to reach potential customers and give them the opportunity to test drive our outstanding IONIQ electric while generating awareness for the IONIQ brand at the same time."
The program, which will launch in early 2017, is Hyundai's first large-scale involvement in carsharing. Customers can simply download WaiveCar's app, find an IONIQ near them, book it, and start driving — no cards or keys necessary. WaiveCar then unlocks the door for consumers remotely, where they can find the keys inside. Insurance is also part of the deal.
Users can drive an IONIQ for free for two hours at a time. They can continue to drive for $5.99 an hour or return the car at any designated spot for the next user to pick up, according to Hyundai.
WaiveCar plans to add 150 IONIQs, which will be deployed throughout Los Angeles in the first half of 2017. WaiveCar plans to launch in three additional cities by the end of 2017 — using 250 more IONIQs.
"We are extremely excited to be working together with Hyundai," said Zoli Honig, WaiveCar's CTO and co-founder. "Providing low cost, eco-friendly transportation alternatives to consumers is our core mission and offering the IONIQ will accelerate that goal. We believe this partnership will be tremendously beneficial for Hyundai, WaiveCar, our customers, and the environment."
More Rental Operations

Clean on Paper: Red Flags in Exotic Car Rental Verification
A suspicious $45,000 Lamborghini booking reveals the strengths and limitations of renter verification, from forged insurance documents to coverage gaps and unauthorized drivers. (Part 2 of 3)
Read More →
Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals
The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.
Read More →
How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
