Automotive manufacturer Daimler has acquired Germany-based ridesharing platform Flinc for an undisclosed sum, giving an exit to investors including rail operator Deutsche Bahn and carmaker General Motors (GM).
Founded in 2010, Flinc operates a peer-to-peer ridesharing platform with more than 500,000 registered users. The offering is available as an app and website, and is also integrated into other services, such as company apps that enable colleagues to carpool.
GM’s General Motors Ventures unit joined Deutsche Bahn to invest in a round of undisclosed size for Flinc in July 2015. Ecomobility Ventures, a venture capital fund backed by corporates SNCF, Total, Orange, Air Liquide and Michelin, was also an investor, though details of its funding have not been revealed.
Flinc will continue to operate independently post-acquisition, and co-founders Klaus Dibbern, Michael Hübl and Benjamin Kirschner will remain part of the leadership team.
Jörg Lamparter, Daimler’s head of mobility services, said: “Transport options are just as varied as the mobility demands of our customers. Whether flexible carsharing, ride-hailing or door-to-door ridesharing, with our mobility services, we are able to provide the ideal solution.
“With Flinc, we are taking on an extremely well-coordinated team that brings valuable experience in the field of short-distance ridesharing.”