Following recent incidents involving vehicles from Turo in New Orleans and Las Vegas on New Year's Day, the company's CEO addressed concerns about the drivers who used the peer-to-peer car-sharing service. CEO Andre Haddad stated that there were no 'red flags' regarding the drivers involved in the incidents.
In an interview, Haddad mentioned that the individuals in question, one in New Orleans and the other in Las Vegas, were both decorated members of the military. Turo conducts background checks on its customers and had verified that both drivers possessed valid driver's licenses, with one having been honorably discharged.
Haddad explained that Turo's algorithms consider over 50 data points, including vehicle specifications, renter details, location, and booking times, to generate risk scores for users. This approach has contributed to the company's strong safety track record over the past four years.
The CEO emphasized that Turo is focused on assisting law enforcement with investigations into the incidents and ensuring the safety of its platform. Despite the recent events, Turo remains committed to maintaining trust and safety for its users.
Turo highlighted its operational statistics, stating that out of 27 million trips and 90 million booked days over 12 years, less than 0.10% have resulted in serious incidents like vehicle theft. As of September, Turo had 350,000 active vehicle listings and 3.5 million renters across five countries.
