GM Launches Short-Term Rental Plan for Lyft Ride-Share Drivers

Today General Motors Co. is launching Express Drive, a special car rental program for Lyft Inc. ride-share drivers, in San Francisco.

The deal comes two months after GM invested $500 million in Lyft and partnered with the company to develop an on-demand network of self-driving vehicles. Express Drive will be implemented through the carmaker’s new Maven car- and ride-share infrastructure.

GM says it will extend Express Drive to Chicago later this month, then introduce the program in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and other locales. The plan enables Lyft drivers to rent new GM vehicles for $99 per week, including insurance and maintenance.

In Chicago, GM will waive the rental fee on Chevrolet Equinox crossover models for Lyft drivers who complete at least 65 rides per week. GM notes that 60,000 people applied to drive for Lyft in Chicago but lacked a car that qualified.