Uber Carshare
An Australian peer-to-peer car-sharing service formerly known as Car Next Door and later owned and rebranded by Uber.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Uber Carshare was an Australian peer-to-peer car-sharing service that enabled vehicle owners to make privately owned cars available for hourly or daily rental by registered users. The business began in 2012 under the name Car Next Door and developed a marketplace model in which individuals could share vehicles that might otherwise remain unused. It expanded beyond its original base to operate across Australia's capital cities and in regional urban areas including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Newcastle. The service occupied a position between conventional car rental, car ownership and community-based mobility. Rather than maintaining a wholly company-owned fleet, it relied primarily on privately supplied vehicles. This allowed users to access cars for relatively short periods while giving owners an opportunity to earn income from their vehicles. The model was part of a broader shift toward shared mobility and collaborative consumption in Australia. Car Next Door attracted strategic and corporate investment during its independent phase. Caltex Australia invested A$2.5 million in 2016. Caltex, later renamed Ampol, subsequently sold its 17.2 percent interest for A$16.7 million on 24 December 2021. Hyundai also invested in the company in 2019 and placed a selection of electric Ioniq vehicles on the platform, linking the service with experimentation in electric mobility and shared access to newer vehicle technologies. Uber acquired Car Next Door on 20 January 2022 for an undisclosed amount. Public reporting associated with the transaction placed the value at approximately A$105 million, but that figure was not formally disclosed by the companies. The purchase was Uber's first acquisition in Australia and extended Uber's mobility portfolio beyond ride-hailing and delivery. Following the takeover, Car Next Door continued to operate with a degree of independence, with co-founder Will Davies remaining chief executive until November 2022. In November 2022, the business was renamed Uber Carshare and connected more closely with the Uber brand and ecosystem. The rebrand presented peer-to-peer vehicle access as a complement to Uber's other transport services rather than as a conventional Uber ride-hailing product. Despite that integration, the service remained focused on users renting privately owned vehicles for self-directed trips. Uber announced in August 2024 that Uber Carshare would cease operations the following month. The company attributed the closure to rising costs and operational challenges. The shutdown ended the brand's Australian marketplace operations after approximately twelve years, including its period as Car Next Door and its subsequent ownership by Uber.
History
Uber Carshare originated in Australia in 2012 as Car Next Door. Its operating concept was based on peer-to-peer vehicle sharing: individuals could list privately owned cars, while registered users could reserve those vehicles for hourly or daily use. This structure distinguished the service from traditional rental companies, which generally supply and manage their own fleets, and from ride-hailing services, where a passenger hires a driver. Car Next Door instead gave customers temporary access to a vehicle for self-directed travel. The company expanded across Australia's major metropolitan markets and also established a presence in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Newcastle. Its growth reflected increasing interest in alternatives to private car ownership and in more efficient use of underutilized vehicles. The platform's supply was built around participating owners, making geographic coverage and vehicle availability dependent on the local community of hosts. In 2016, Caltex Australia invested A$2.5 million in Car Next Door. Caltex later became Ampol, and Ampol sold its 17.2 percent stake for A$16.7 million on 24 December 2021. Hyundai invested in the business in 2019 and used the platform to make a number of electric Ioniq vehicles available for sharing. The Hyundai relationship connected the marketplace with the emerging electric-vehicle segment and demonstrated how manufacturers could use shared mobility channels to expose users to newer vehicle types. Uber acquired Car Next Door on 20 January 2022. The transaction was not accompanied by a disclosed purchase price; estimates cited in public material suggested a value of approximately A$105 million. It was Uber's first acquisition in Australia and broadened the company's mobility strategy into peer-to-peer car sharing. After the acquisition, Car Next Door continued to operate independently for a period, with co-founder Will Davies serving as chief executive until November 2022. The business was then rebranded Uber Carshare. The new identity placed the service within Uber's broader mobility portfolio, while its core proposition remained the rental of privately owned vehicles for short periods. The product therefore complemented, rather than replicated, Uber's ride-hailing model: customers rented a car and drove themselves instead of requesting a trip with an Uber driver. The brand's operating life ended in 2024. In August, Uber announced that Uber Carshare would stop operating the following month. The stated reasons were rising costs and operational challenges. The closure brought the Australian service to an end after its twelve-year history, first as Car Next Door and later as Uber Carshare.
- 2024
Operations are discontinued
[1]Uber announces in August that Uber Carshare will cease operating the following month because of rising costs and operational challenges.
- 2022
Uber acquires Car Next Door
[1]Uber completes the acquisition on 20 January in what is described as its first Australian acquisition.
- 2022
The service becomes Uber Carshare
[1]The Car Next Door brand is replaced by Uber Carshare in November.
- 2021
Ampol sells its minority stake
[1]Ampol sells its 17.2 percent interest for A$16.7 million on 24 December.
- 2019
Hyundai invests and adds electric vehicles
[1]Hyundai invests in the platform, and a number of electric Ioniq vehicles are offered for sharing.
- 2016
Caltex Australia makes a strategic investment
[1]Caltex Australia invests A$2.5 million in Car Next Door.
- 2012
Car Next Door is established
[1]The Australian peer-to-peer car-sharing business that would later become Uber Carshare begins operations under the Car Next Door name.
Products and positioning
Peer-to-peer car sharing that gives users short-term access to privately owned vehicles while allowing vehicle owners to share their cars for income.
Peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace · 2022
Uber Carshare
The principal service allowed registered users to locate and reserve privately owned vehicles for hourly or daily use. Vehicle owners supplied cars to the marketplace, while renters used them for self-directed journeys rather than hiring a driver. The service operated in Australian capital cities and selected regional urban areas before being discontinued in 2024.
Peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace · 2012
Car Next Door
The original brand and platform launched in 2012. Car Next Door connected vehicle owners with people seeking short-term access to cars, using a community-based marketplace model. It remained the operating identity for much of the company's independent period and after Uber's acquisition until the November 2022 rebrand.
Brand decisions
2024
Decision to discontinue Uber CarshareStrategyBackground
Uber cited rising costs and operational challenges in announcing the end of the service.
Action taken
Uber announced in August 2024 that Uber Carshare would cease operations the following month.
Aftermath
The brand's Australian operations ended, making Uber Carshare a discontinued service.
2022
Uber acquires Car Next DoorM&ABackground
Uber sought to expand its mobility offering beyond ride-hailing, while Car Next Door provided an established Australian peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace.
Action taken
Uber acquired Car Next Door on 20 January 2022. The purchase price was not disclosed; public estimates placed the transaction at approximately A$105 million.
Aftermath
The business continued operating independently for a period, with co-founder Will Davies remaining chief executive until November 2022.
2022
Rebrand from Car Next Door to Uber CarshareStrategyBackground
Following the acquisition, Uber moved to align the service more closely with its global mobility brand.
Action taken
The company changed its name to Uber Carshare in November 2022.
Aftermath
The peer-to-peer vehicle-rental proposition continued under the Uber identity until the service was closed in 2024.
Recent events
- 2024
Uber announces the closure of Uber Carshare[1]
Bankruptcy
Uber announced in August 2024 that the service would cease operations the following month, citing rising costs and operational challenges.
- 2022
Uber acquires Car Next Door[1]
M&A
Uber acquired Car Next Door on 20 January 2022 in its first Australian acquisition. The purchase price was undisclosed, although public estimates placed it at about A$105 million.
- 2022
Car Next Door is rebranded as Uber Carshare[1]
Product launch
The service adopted the Uber Carshare name in November 2022 after continuing to operate independently for part of the post-acquisition period.
- 2019
Hyundai invests in Car Next Door and shares Ioniq vehicles through the platform[1]
M&A · Product launch
Hyundai invested in Car Next Door and listed a number of electric Ioniq vehicles for sharing through the service.
- 2016
Caltex Australia invests in Car Next Door[1]
M&A
Caltex Australia invested A$2.5 million in the Australian peer-to-peer car-sharing company.
Sources4 sources
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