Why was ponycar car-sharing service taken offline?
3 Answers
ponycar car-sharing vehicles were taken offline due to policy reasons and supplier cooperation issues. Below is relevant information about ponycar: 1. Introduction to ponycar: PonyCar is an electric vehicle time-sharing rental platform launched by Shenzhen Letu Hui Technology Co., Ltd., specializing in the new energy vehicle sharing economy. Within less than a year of its establishment, it completed three rounds of financing from Series A to Series C. 2. Major achievements of ponycar: As of December 2017, it had deployed over 3,000 new energy electric vehicles in four cities: Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Xi'an. Unlike some companies' market occupation strategy of multi-city deployment, Ponycar refined its minimum viable product (MVP) in Shenzhen, a representative first-tier city, and achieved overall profitability in a short time. PonyCar has achieved approximately 20% gross margin and realized single-city profitability in Shenzhen.
As a young commuter who frequently rents shared cars, I guess the main reason PonyCar was taken offline is that the operational costs were too high to sustain. When renting, I often encounter cars in poor condition, like faulty brakes or aging batteries, which makes driving feel particularly unsafe. The company has to keep repairing the vehicles but can't charge too much, otherwise, who would still use them? After the shared economy boom faded, investors became more cautious, making it even harder for PonyCar to secure funding. Additionally, shared bikes and ride-hailing services are now so convenient that user habits have changed, leading to lower car utilization rates. Without sufficient revenue, the company had no choice but to exit. Moreover, with the rise of remote work post-pandemic, demand for car usage has declined even further, leading to a major industry reshuffle. I believe the shared car model can only survive by optimizing maintenance efficiency and cost structure.
As an automotive enthusiast, I believe the core issue behind PonyCar's discontinuation lies in its technological maintenance shortcomings. The vehicles experienced rapid wear from frequent usage - common problems included recurring engine issues, fragile air conditioning systems, and inadequate cleaning. I personally encountered moldy seats when renting. These operational details drove up maintenance costs, while PonyCar likely lacked sufficient technicians or spare parts inventory. With intense market competition where major players like GoFun invest more resources to maintain trendy fleets, user attrition became inevitable. Policy factors like urban driving restrictions also significantly impacted vehicle deployment efficiency. Ultimately, car-sharing relies on economies of scale and smart technologies - challenges for smaller operators. Timely maintenance and data analytics are critical success factors.
