Treepz, the Nigerian mobility company, has relaunched a car-sharing marketplace in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, the first…
Treepz, the Nigerian mobility company, has relaunched a car-sharing marketplace in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, the first of such products in all countries, the company said in a statement to Technext. Before now, it was a bus-hailing platform.
With this new marketplace that Treepz rolled out to users yesterday, car owners can rent out their vehicles for short to long-term periods starting at ₦30,000 to ₦90,000 per day.
With this new product, Treepz is part of a new wave of African mobility startups that have targeted blue ocean solutions that aim to provide vehicles to Africans by evading traditional car financing methods. This comes after a $2.8 million raise in 2021 and a series of acquisitions of mobility startups in Ghana and Uganda.
“The new Treepz is an exciting innovation for transportation in Africa,” the CEO, Onyeka Akumah, who founded the company in 2019, said in the statement.
“We are making better use of more than 26 million vehicles available on the continent to provide commuters with enjoyable and fun transportation service as they travel for work or simply enjoy a smooth ride across the safaris in the continent.
Today we are regarded as the largest car-sharing marketplace in Africa, and we have seized that opportunity with the technology we’ve built for hosts (vehicle owners or rental companies) to manage their inventory, reach new customers and track their growth. While guests who book from these hosts have the luxury to select their dream car for work, pleasure or exploration with a vetted driver,” he added.
Joining Treepz new marketplace
Cars owners seeking to host their vehicles on the new Treepz marketplace must maintain said vehicles according to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. The company said that its insurance policy covers the cost of damage during every rental period. The insurance, the company says, also covers theft of the vehicle. However, it adds that the host must report the damage immediately, cooperating with the insurance claim process.
The CEO adds that with this product, the company has positioned itself at the forefront of helping hosts make money and guests experience better commutes.
“We have spent the last 5 months building this solution and we are excited to introduce you to this in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. Treepz is at the forefront of this important movement with guests and hosts enjoying their commute and making money on the continent. Our goal is to listen to our customers and keep making them happy with every trip they make with us, so this innovation is to tell our customers, we have listened and built Treepz for you,” he said.
Treepz said that its offering this product now after observing the needs and trends in the market when it comes to mobility. It said it plans to produce affordable transportation solutions.
“Treepz is offering its car-sharing marketplace now because of the growing demand for car rentals and car-sharing services in Africa,” the company said in a statement to Technext.
“The car ownership rate in Africa is relatively low compared to other regions, and there is a significant need for affordable and flexible transportation solutions. Treepz aims to provide an easy and convenient way for people to rent a car whenever and wherever they need it, while also offering vehicle owners and car rental companies an opportunity to earn extra income.”
For security and safety reasons, the companies said that it put hosts and guests through a rigorous vetting process, including requiring identification and verifying their driving history for guests. After the usual car registration verification, it says that its hosts also undergo a background check.