NAIAS 2016: With Ford Credit Link, the Sharing Economy Comes to Leasing

Chris Tonn
by Chris Tonn

A pilot initiative will be launched next month in Austin, Texas, where small groups can join forces and lease a new Ford together. Only available at three select dealers for now, the 24-month lease will likely operate much like Zipcar or Car2Go, but on a much smaller, private scale.

A new app will allow between three and six close friends to share payment responsibilities, as well as locate and schedule the use of the car.

Austin was chosen due to the the diverse demographics ( and the good public transport options available to those waiting for their deadbeat roommate to return the Focus.

Chris Tonn
Chris Tonn

Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.

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  • Car Ramrod Car Ramrod on Jan 11, 2016

    "A new app will allow between three and six close friends to share payment responsibilities, as well as locate and schedule the use of the car." By the time the lease is over they won't be close friends any longer.

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    • Bball40dtw Bball40dtw on Jan 11, 2016

      @VoGo That shouldn't be too difficult. Policy follows the car. Ford could add an insurance policy into the payment I guess. I'm sure Progressive or Geico would be all over that.

  • Anomaly149 Anomaly149 on Jan 11, 2016

    Unlike a Zipcar you can park this at your place. That's pretty big. It's certainly interesting.

  • VenomV12 VenomV12 on Jan 12, 2016

    This seems like an incredibly horrible idea, definitely not for me. You can get some pretty dirt cheap leases out there if you are that bad off, if you can't afford $150 or so a month for a car you probably shouldn't own a car.

  • PandaBear PandaBear on Jan 12, 2016

    I would imagine it is not any better than zipcar with a long term contract (and a lower cost). Insurance will end up being non owner insurance or rolled into the lease, fractionally, and no fault. Cost has to be cheaper than zipcar, by a lot, or else why would people choose it over zipcar? Most importantly, someone has to clean that thing once in a while and with many co-leaser, who is going to take care of that?

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