Following its successful launch in Sydney at the end of March as Australia's answer to Netflix for cars, Carly has launched in Melbourne.
Carly is described as an alternative to buying or leasing a car, and instead has its users pay a monthly subscription fee to access a huge fleet of vehicles.
From today, Melbourne's Carly subscribers have access to more than 90 vehicles from 11 automotive manufacturers featuring in excess of 30 models.
The launch of Carly coincides with a global movement away from vehicle ownership as the accessibility of services like Uber and the emergence of driverless cars become more prominent transportation options.
Subscribers to Carly can start, pause or stop their subscription at any time and can switch cars as their needs change. For example, subscribers can jump from a sedan to a family sized car should a new member of the family pop into life.
Carly delivers the car to the subscriber's location at the commencement of the subscription and whenever the subscription is changed.
"Carly will provide the flexibility that many drivers and especially younger generations are now seeking, by removing the long-term financial commitment required to buy or finance a vehicle, eliminating the need to lock into a long-term debt," says Carly.
The company behind Carly, listed innovation hub Collaborate Corporation (ASX: CL8), hopes to tap into a $60 billion vehicle market.
"We can see from our launch in Sydney that there is a real desire for access to vehicles with no up-front costs and the flexibility to switch the car or pause the subscription at any time," says Collaborate CEO Chris Noone.
"The ability to subscribe entirely online and have the car delivered the next day make this a really exciting alternative to a loan or a lease. These features are especially attractive to contractors, relocators, families and young singles looking for their first vehicle, who have been amongst our first subscribers."
"We are excited to continue the roll out of Carly in Melbourne at a time when people are re-evaluating the merits of making a long-term vehicle purchase commitment and automotive dealers are looking for new ways to reverse the decline in vehicle sales."
Drive My Car is another service run by Collaborate Corporation, though it focuses on vehicle rental options in the private, corporate, rideshare and accident replacement markets.
Carly leverages Collaborate's Drive My Car systems and processes and even draws upon the fleet of cars offered by Drive My Car.
Shares in Collaborate Corporation are up 11.11 per cent to $0.01 per share at 10.11am AEST.
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