New ride-sharing service, ViaVan, launches in London

ViaVan, the joint venture between Via and Mercedes-Benz Vans, has announced the launch of its new shared ride service in London.

Through the app, passengers will be seamlessly matched in real time with other riders travelling in the same direction and will share the journey in a professionally-chauffeured vehicle.

Available across zones 1 and 2, the service will provide Londoners with an alternative to Uber, offering the lowest fares, with treatment of drivers and riders assured to be better and a corporate ethos that puts safety as the top priority. To mark the launch, all ViaVan rides to or from zone 1 will cost just £3 for a limited time.

“Londoners deserve innovative transportation solutions that are safe, convenient and affordable,” said Chris Snyder, CEO of ViaVan. “Our mission is to power truly dynamic mass transit systems, which reduce congestion in our cities while offering drivers the opportunity to earn a decent living. We are delighted to launch in London and to finally give Londoners an alternative to expensive and inefficient private car services.”

This is the second city launch for ViaVan, following its launch in Amsterdam. The service will be powered by Via’s ride-pooling technology, which has provided more than 30 million shared rides globally, from Australia to California.

By grouping multiple passengers into one vehicle, ViaVan reduces congestion and emissions, providing an inexpensive, eco-friendly and convenient transportation service; aiming to ‘close the gap’, serving as an affordable extension of the public transit system.

“Londoners are amongst the savviest of consumers, always looking for the right mix of quality, cost, convenience and social impact,” said Luca Parducci, General Manager of ViaVan London. “Unlike competitors’ pooling solutions, we’re confident that ViaVan will be a huge hit – a comfortable and convenient way to get around that you can feel good about.”