Why let Uber and Lyft have all of the profits, right? Some companies, like Tesla, have plans to allow self-driving cars to earn their owners money by driving around and picking up passengers. Starting next month, Mercedes-Benz owners will have the chance to have their cars earn them money on the side. Mercedes will test a new peer-to-peer (P2P) system to allow other people to rent out their Mercedes.
In an interview with Motoring, Mercedes-Benz CEO, Dieter Zetsche explains that "Your car can be equipped with a box that connects it to an online platform. Then your photograph of your Mercedes creates yours car's profile. It's like Airbnb for cars. Next you enter your free dates and give thousands of members the ability to rent, unlock and drive your car, all with a smartphone." In the US, there are already third-party websites that will allow you to rent cars like an Airbnb. Although, having the reputation of a car company behind it could make this idea more viable. The idea makes sense because cars are parked 23 hours per day on average, so why not use that time to make some money?
