In recent years, traffic has become one of the major issues, where long commutes are a daily grind, and finding a safe space to park the vehicle is another level task, especially on weekends. However, DriveU – an on-demand driver service platform has emerged as a smart solution to this common urban problem: finding trustworthy, trained drivers for personal cars.
Founded in 2015 by Ashok Shastry, Rahm Shastry, and Amulmeet Chadha, the startup introduced a simple yet powerful idea: what if booking a driver was as easy as hailing a cab? And that’s how it has become an Uber for drivers, where you can hire professional drivers for daily commute, for short shopping trips, long destination trips, and more.
Tapping the Pain Point
While the world is full of numerous ride-hailing services, such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, and BLU Smart, DriveU has tapped the untapped landscape of the population that owns vehicles but doesn’t want to drive, whether it’s for a night out, an airport drop, or a medical appointment.
They provide professional drivers with hands-on experience to make your travel smooth and hassle-free.
DriveU – The Business Model
The startup follows the B2C gig-economy model, where drivers work for flexible hours and earn money every time they complete a trip. The business takes a commission from each earnings of driver and provides loyalty benefits, as well as micro-insurance, to its driver partners.
Not only this, the startup has also diversified the business and initiated DriveU Partner Services, where car owners get solutions like doorstep car servicing, FASTag recharge, and insurance renewal, aiming to become a full-stack car care platform.
Major Takeaways
- Professional & Verified Drivers: When a driver is booked through DriveU, the individual assigned has typically undergone multiple screening steps, such as driving assessments, police verification, and behavioral checks, to ensure they meet certain safety and reliability standards
- Tech-First Approach: The DriveU app is seamless, allowing for easy booking, upfront pricing, in-app payments, and even subscription models for frequent users
- Real-Time Tracking: Just like many food delivery apps, where you can track the rider’s location, DriveU provides you with the information in real-time, so that you know where the driver is and provides the exact time to reach your location
- Flexible Usage: Customers can book drivers by the hour, for outstation trips, or full-day hires
- Insurance + Ratings: Each trip is covered by insurance, and drivers are rated after each service, maintaining high service standards
Business Presence & Growth
Presently, the startup is operating in seven major Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. As per the DriveU stats, they claim to have completed over 5 million bookings and onboarded 50,000+ drivers.
They continue to target urban car owners, corporates, and elderly users who prefer chauffeur-driven convenience without the commitment of hiring a full-time driver.
DriveU is not just about driving convenience; it reflects a broader shift in India’s gig economy. It empowers thousands of drivers with flexible earnings, digitizes an informal sector, and gives urban car owners the ease and safety of modern tech. As personal mobility becomes more nuanced post-COVID, DriveU’s vision of “Your Car. Our Driver.” could become a staple for millions of Indian car owners.
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