---
title: "BMW, Daimler Begin Talks to Combine Car-Sharing Services, Report Says"
description: "BMW and Daimler are reportedly in talks to combine their car-sharing services."
date: "2018-01-29"
modified: "2018-01-29"
authors:
  - name: "Stephen Edelstein"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stephen-edelstein"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/18042/bmw-daimler-begin-talks-to-combine-car-sharing-services-report-says"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "BMW"
  - "car-sharing"
  - "Daimler"
  - "DriveNow"
  - "self-driving cars"
---

# BMW, Daimler Begin Talks to Combine Car-Sharing Services, Report Says

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/08/d354927.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

BMW bought out partner Sixt from their partnership in the DriveNow (called [ReachNow](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/6624/bmws-reachnow-ceo-is-also-an-uber-driver>) in the U.S.) car-sharing service, a move that paves the way for a car-sharing alliance with Daimler, reports [*Reuters*](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bmw-carsharing-drivenow-sixt/drivenow-deal-paves-way-for-bmw-daimler-alliance-source-idUSKBN1FI1AJ>).

The rival German automakers have begun talks to combine their two car-sharing services, according to *Reuters*, which cited an anonymous executive familiar with the discussions. [This isn't the first time](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/13566/bmw-daimler-may-combine-car-sharing-services-car2go-and-reachnow-report-says>) rumors of a BMW-Daimler partnership have surfaced, and such a partnership would help the two automakers fight off competition from tech companies like Uber and Lyft.

The source said BMW and Daimler want to build a joint business that could encompass car sharing, electric-car charging, parking services, and ride-sharing services to rival Uber and Lyft. The executive said this would create an "ecosystem" that could be used for managing autonomous "robotaxi" fleets.

In addition to combining BMW's ReachNow/DriveNow and Daimler's [Car2Go](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17593/car-sharing-platform-car2go-has-huge-2017>) services, BMW's ChargeNow charging service and ParkNow parking service would reportedly be folded into the new business. BMW and Daimler are already collaborating with Ford and the Volkswagen Group on a [network of electric-car charging stations in Europe](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/15772/ionity-set-to-charge-european-electric-highway-revolution>).

Sharing services represent a potential threat to automakers, but also an opportunity. They could eat into new-car sales, but automakers can make up some of that by operating the services themselves. The arrival of self-driving cars is expected to accelerate the trend of using shared vehicles rather than owning a car. [Intel believes](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/11073/heres-why-intel-thinks-self-driving-cars-will-be-a-7-trillion-business>) autonomous cars and sharing services could combine to form a $7 trillion business by 2050. It makes sense for BMW and Daimler to try to lay the groundwork for that future now.

## Author
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he's not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/SAEdelstein>)