LOS ANGELES -

Following up from arranging a strategic partnership with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, HyreCar — the carsharing marketplace for ridesharing — announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its unique dealer focused “path to ownership” program with stores in six different cities throughout the United States.

The development potentially adds more than 500 vehicles to the platform. Rideshare drivers are now able to rent and drive-to-own vehicles that are listed on the HyreCar platform by participating dealers, which now include:

— Burlington Auto Group, based in Philadelphia

— Sims Mitsubishi in Cleveland

— 1st Place Auto Stores in Dallas

—Don’s Auto Group, based in New Orleans market

—M & S Auto Sales in Atlanta

—Benchmark Auto Sales in Asheville, N.C.

Each dealer location will have a customized driver sign-up kiosk in their showroom to actively promote the HyreCar program.

HyreCar’s aim is to meet an overwhelming dealer demand to enter the mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) industry throughout the U.S. The HyreCar-DriveItAway alliance is now executing a unique dealer program that can give participating dealers the opportunity to offer vehicles to new ridesharing drivers for temporary use, as a means to generate funds towards a down payment for vehicle ownership.

In cooperation with a national ridesharing company, HyreCar’s partner DriveItAway is installing customized sign-up kiosks inside participating dealerships, where potential rideshare drivers can apply to drive. Once approved, drivers can participate in the “Drive for your Down Payment” program.

With this program, new driver candidates are provided a temporary vehicle by the dealership, through the HyreCar dealership platform, to raise money through rideshare driving, for a down payment to buy the vehicle of their choice, regardless of past credit history.

“We see this program as a win for everyone,” said Wayne Hileman, owner of Burlington Auto Group, one of the pilot dealers to launch this program. “We make money supplying temporary vehicles, and in the process, nurture a new customer to buy a vehicle.

“We are delighted to empower new rideshare drivers to purchase a vehicle through the ‘on-demand’ employment opportunity provided by the ridesharing company,” Hileman continued. “Additionally, the rideshare company gets a new, loyal driver, dedicated to building his or her own driving business.”

The combination of these six stores joining up with NIADA members, HyreCar chief executive officer Joe Furnari is upbeat on the company's future, which also has executed a successful initial public offering.

“The reception to our dealer enabling program has been overwhelming,” Furnari said. “As a result, we are mobilizing very quickly to meet dealer demand all over the United States. These dealer additions will help us meet the increasing demand for ridesharing-approved vehicles, while also adding additional vehicles to our growing platform.”