John Kett

HOLDEN’S ride-sharing solution to future mobility has spread across Australia with its Maven Gig service this week opening in Perth.

The WA capital city joins Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast to have a Maven presence.

At the same time, Maven Australia has appointed John Kett as its general manager to lead Maven Gig and Maven Car Sharing.

Although car sharing is yet to find its straps in Australia, the Holden-backed Maven Gig has more than 2500 members who are served by a fleet of about 2000 Holden vehicles.

The name Gig comes from engagement, indicating task-based employment to receive one-off payments. In its application to Maven, it shows people can use the ride-sharing program to perform individual jobs – such as delivery services or ferrying people – to earn money.

In a statement, Maven said the most popular vehicle requested by its members was the seven-seat Captiva. Other vehicles include the Holden Barina, Astra sedan and hatch, and the Trax small SUV.

Data logging from the company shows more than 3.5 million passenger trips have occurred since Maven started on April 10, 2017 and that more than 80 million kilometres have been driven in the Holdens.

The Maven Gig program offers members unlimited kilometres, flexible rental terms, 24/7 roadside assistance, insurance to cover personal and rideshare use, scheduled servicing and no joining or exit fees.

Members pay a set weekly rate which suits drivers who can run a ride-sharing business or drivers conducting delivery services.

Mr Kett comes to Maven from almost seven years at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in China and more recently, as director of Go to Market at Holden.

Mr Kett said that Holden was Australia’s leading OEM operating in the gig economy.

“With the support of GM’s global footprint, Maven in Australia brings all the advantages and consistency of an established car company with the entrepreneurship, speed and customer connection of a start-up,” he said in a statement.

“Australians are quickly embracing the sharing economy, making Australia a key market for Maven.

“We will continue to expand the services Maven offers to meet Australia’s growing demand for new mobility solutions.”

By Neil Dowling