An online car rental platform, Turo, is facing increased scrutiny following its involvement in two alarming incidents on Wednesday. Often referred to as the “Airbnb of cars,” Turo enables individual car owners to rent out their vehicles via its website. Known as “hosts,” these owners can list their cars for rental, with transactions handled through Turo’s platform.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Turo confirmed its vehicles were associated with both incidents— a tragic attack in New Orleans and an explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas. Turo expressed deep condolences for the victims and their families, acknowledging the severity of the situation.
The company emphasized that the individuals who rented the vehicles in question did not have any criminal backgrounds that would raise security concerns. Turo further clarified that both renters possessed valid driver’s licenses, clean background checks, and were veterans honorably discharged from the U.S. military. They stated that these individuals were not likely to have drawn any flags from law enforcement or traditional rental services.
Authorities initially stated that the rental service was used to secure a pickup truck that was involved in the New Orleans incident, as well as the Tesla Cybertruck, which was filled with explosives and erupted into flames near Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. However, they noted there is currently no definitive connection between the two events.
Having been founded in 2009, Turo has grown alongside other peer-to-peer services such as Airbnb and Uber, revolutionizing traditional rental markets. Despite the convenience these platforms offer, they have been subjected to scrutiny over safety issues, especially concerning the theft of vehicles for illegal activities. Turo and similar platforms maintain that such occurrences are rare but have acknowledged previous reports linking their cars to vehicle thefts.
As of late September 2023, Turo boasts around 150,000 active vehicle hosts globally, with approximately 350,000 active listings and over 3.5 million guests participating in its marketplace.
Turo reassured its hosts that thorough screening processes for guests are in place to ensure their safety when renting out vehicles.
This incident underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the balance of convenience and safety in the emerging sharing economy. While Turo and other platforms strive to foster trust and security, they also face the challenge of mitigating risks and addressing public concerns.
In a hopeful light, the company can use this situation to enhance its safety protocols and strengthen relationships with law enforcement, potentially leading to a more secure experience for both hosts and renters in the future. This could be an opportunity for Turo to reinforce its commitment to community safety and responsible usage of its services.