Originally from Bangladesh, 30-year-old Ghazi Aftab Rahman moved to London in 2006 to study for his undergraduate degree. It was here he developed an interest in the automotive industry and the potential impact both financially and environmentally of launching a car-sharing business venture.

Ghazi launched Sunshine Ventures, which he operates through Drivy, Europe’s leading peer-to-peer car-sharing platform. Since launching on Drivy in 2017, Ghazi has acquired a fleet of 15 cars, all available for people to hire on the platform.

“Through researching the future of the automotive industry, I came to recognise developing technologies and advancements in electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as the impact that carpooling and car-sharing could have on the environment,” Ghazi explains. Integrating different types of software can help ventures like this really take off, for example, using a Visitor Chat system can aid in keeping that connection to people who want to take part in this car-sharing, as well as those who are wishing to drive one of these cars.

“I started using Drivy in 2017 and just two years later, I’ve got 15 cars on the platform of various makes and models, predominantly electric and hybrid, with the remaining meeting the EURO 6* standard for London’s pending ultra-low emissions zone, all of which bring in a regular income stream.

“For example, I have two cars in Marylebone doing really well. One is a Volkswagen Passat. where I’m making between £700 – £800 every month from this vehicle. Considering the purchase price of £13,000, I will have offset the investment in this car in less than a year and a half. The other is a Mini Cooper Roadster, a lovely sporty car that is really popular during the summer and getting booked every day.”

The average UK car sits idle or parked 96%** of the time and research suggests that each car shared 100% of its time replaces ten private cars*** in cities. Car sharing platforms like Drivy act as a conduit between those with cars sat unused and those needing to use a vehicle on occasion without full-time ownership with 46% of Londoners opting to not own their own car****.

“The industry is changing, and we wanted to make sure we were a part of it,” Ghazi adds. “The need for personal vehicle ownership in London is diminishing, cars are depreciating in value just sitting on driveways idle and underutilized. People are looking for alternative options, especially in London where you may only need a car a few times a month, or even a year. People are looking to fill that gap by car sharing as and when they need.

It’s possible that he could be investing in repainting and maintaining the car in a very efficient manner. That’s because people looking for a car-sharing option tend to look at the condition, maintenance, scratches, and everything else in the vehicle they want to share. For instance, the paint job on the car should ideally last forever, especially if it is the original factory paint. However, bubbling and peeling can occur, resulting in more than just an unsightly appearance. The paint on a vehicle does more than just make it look nice: it can protect the metal frame underneath from moisture damage, rust, and dents. As a result, it’s likely that he either purchased the truck paint booth himself to repaint it at regular intervals or could be taking the cars in for regular maintenance.

“We’re passionate about the environmental impact that car sharing platforms like Drivy can have. As well as taking more cars off the road and ensuring more efficient usage, we also work with a green forest charity contributing to tree plantation policies for every car we buy with an ambition of being carbon neutral in the future.”

“We have a fleet of 15 cars on Drivy now with ambitions to increase this to 100 by the end of the year. The platform is constantly developing new technologies and working with professional car owners to ensure the smooth running of our car sharing business and we are excited to see how far we can grow with Drivy.”

Drivy launched in London in late 2017 and already has 1,000 cars listed and being shared across London. Car owners are making hundreds of pounds every month, creating a care-free, no strings attached additional income.

Drivy believes that anyone in the city looking to use a car should have one within walking distance – offering convenience and freedom to get around. Drivy is now nationwide and accepting cars all over the UK.

To see how much you could earn and to find out more about Drivy, visit: www.drivy.co.uk/rent-your-car.