Audi purchase US car hire firm Silvercar  

It is no secret that may car firms compete in various different races. From inventing the best car-pooling service to launching the first fully autonomous car, Audi, BMW, Google and the likes are currently trying to out each other when it comes to technology.

Though things have been a little quiet on the driverless car front, Audi are still very much trying to stay ahead of the game. Making various investments in firms, Audi have this week acquired car hire firm, Silvercar. Operating in 15 cities throughout America, the startup has gone from strength to strength since its exposition in 2012, having successfully conducted three funding rounds to get them to the position they are in.

Thrilled to have been bought out, Luke Schneider, Silvercar chief executive, said the car market is “on the verge of the most profound changes in the 120-year history of modern personal transportation.”

With Audi already investing $28m in the company as part of its third funding round, they are said to be more interested in the technology that supports it rather than the hire facility itself.

Currently working on two car-pooling products, this acquisition will simply aid Audi in their mission to overtake Google and BMW to launch the ‘Airbnb for cars’.

“Audi and Silvercar share the same vision,” Dietmar Voggenreiter, Audi boardmember, said in a press release. “We want to open up a new, flexible way to access mobility for our customers while offering premium quality in every respect.”

Let us know what you think, will Audi win the race or are they simply wasting millions on a pipedream? Leave your thoughts with us.