Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

DriveNow Customers Can Use Amazon Alexa to Reserve Vehicles

DriveNow customers in Germany, Austria, and the U.K. who own Alexa devices, such as Amazon Echo and Echo Dot, can use voice commands to reserve nearby vehicles and get details on their car and reservation time.

by Staff
August 16, 2017
DriveNow Customers Can Use Amazon Alexa to Reserve Vehicles

Photo courtesy of DriveNow

2 min to read


Photo courtesy of DriveNow

DriveNow, the carsharing joint venture of the BMW Group and Sixt SE, has announced the launch of its skill for Amazon Alexa. DriveNow customers who own Alexa devices, such as Amazon Echo and Echo Dot, can use voice commands to reserve nearby vehicles and get details on their car and reservation time.

The DriveNow Skill for Alexa can be enabled free of charge in the Alexa app and Alexa skills store.

Ad Loading...

“The DriveNow Skill for Alexa makes it even more convenient to reserve vehicles from home,” said Nico Gabriel, DriveNow’s managing director. “Customers receive information on the nearest vehicles within seconds using voice commands and can reserve their vehicle of choice without having to use their smartphone.”

Amazon’s Alexa voice service has a variety of functions, including controlling lights and sound systems, discussing news, and playing music.

“The ‘smart home’ trend should not just be limited to digitizing everyday life within our own four walls,” said Sebastian Hofelich, DriveNow’s co-managing director. “By integrating DriveNow with Alexa, our aim is to connect smart living with modern mobility.”

DriveNow customers can use the DriveNow Skill by saying “Open DriveNow,” and Alexa will provide details about the nearest available vehicle. The car of choice can then be directly reserved and cancelled again through voice.

Customers can also ask Alexa for information on their remaining reservation period and for details on their chosen vehicle, such as its type and fuel level. If a customer reserves a DriveNow vehicle using Alexa, the reservation is displayed in the DriveNow app, according to the company.

Ad Loading...

“The new DriveNow Skill is an outstanding example of the numerous advantages offered by voice control,” says David Kaiser, country manager of Germany, Alexa Skills. “We’re delighted that Alexa users will be able to find and reserve a vehicle even more easily from now on, and can therefore enjoy a more convenient carsharing experience.”

The DriveNow Alexa Skill is available in Germany, Austria, and the U.K. DriveNow customers can activate the skill using the Alexa app.

More Rental Operations

a laptop shows different connectivity paths for car rental supply
Rental Operations•October 23, 2026

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 →
thumbnail of title and photo of Joel Price and Chris Brown
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 20, 2026

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 →
thumbnail what does it take to succeed in b2b rentals
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Photo of Ana Laborde and world map
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

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 →
Rental car agent shows woman her choice of rental car
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 7, 2026

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 →
an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
globe of world and drivers license from UK
Rental Operations•September 28, 2026

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 →
Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers

The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.

Read More →
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Ad Loading...