Ford Australia President Graeme Whickman announced the exclusive partnership with Carhood today in Sydney saying the service was available to drivers of all brands, but Ford owners would stand to benefit even more.
"This is a million-dollar investment, it's the first of its kind," he said.
Start-up company Carhood began in 2015 with a vision of ending the stranglehold airports have with sky-high parking fees by having car owners leave their vehicles at their premises close to the airport ferrying them to the terminal and then renting the car to visitors arriving in the city while the owners are away.
The car owners receive 25 per cent of the rental fee, and if it isn't rented then parking is still free. The owners meanwhile can rent another vehicle at their destination through Carhood.
The partnership will see Ford customers offered a 35 per cent cut of the rental fee and receive a 10 percent discount on renting a Ford at their destination.
Whickman said that as part of the deal Ford will also provide 30 vehicles to Carhood for rental.
"We're coming in and supporting with cars and vehicles. And also providing support through co-promoting the service to our customers primarily. It's a win-win for both Carhood and Ford, but more importantly a win-win to our customers who presented the exorbitant airport parking fees as a pain point."
Sydney airport makes about $400,000 a day from parking, which is just crazy
For Carhood's 26-year-old executive director and co-founder Steve Johnson the partnership is the boost his business needed.
"It's absolutely amazing that a global brand like Ford has come on board," he says.
"It gives us awareness and gets the name out there. Basically all Ford owners will be aware that we exist, it helps us with credibility as well, plus Ford has provided vehicles which helps form a supply side."
Johnson says the idea for Carhood came to him after being charged $250 for parking at Melbourne airport after a trip to Sydney.
"Sydney airport makes about $400,000 a day from parking, which is just crazy," he said.
"Melbourne is a similar figure. If you bundle all of Australia's airports they're making about $2 million a day form parking.
“What we’re doing is basically saying no, and we’ve flipped it around so that you can actually make money.”
Johnson says anybody can use Carhood, with rentals costing 25-40 per cent less than traditional airport car rental services.
Parking at Sydney Airport's Domestic terminals costs $59.50 for three hours. This is also the day maximum.
Carhood current operates at premises close to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports.
Ford sees the partnership as part of its push into the mobility business, which extends beyond the traditional sales of vehicles and represents what it sees as an enormous future revenue stream.
"We believe the potential is very big," Whickman says.
"I'd say the size of traditional automotive business is about two-and-bit trillion dollars, the mobility space including transportation services is about five-and-half trillion dollars, so it's a significant opportunity.
"Nobody plays in that space with any consequence and Ford has announced its plans to be a significant mobility player and here is another example of that."
The Car Hood venture is the latest series of new offerings Ford Australia has introduced in a bid to overhaul its customer service which began in 2014 with a life time capped price servicing, a dealer concierge, auto club membership and most recently free sat nav map updates.
