April 11, 2019—Ratchet+Wrench spoke to a Lyft representative about the recent news of them opening up their own repair shops—or Vehicle Service Centers—throughout the country.
According to Lyft, there are currently two test service centers—one in San Francisco, and the other in Philadelphia. By the end of the year, their goal is to have 34 more locations launched and running throughout the U.S.
The service centers will offer general maintenance and car washes. Lyft also mentioned the goal of having a majority of the centers additionally offer collision repair.
Lyft’s objective is to cut expenses for their drivers, as well as make their time-use more efficient. According to Lyft, their service center repairs will cost drivers 50 percent less and take 50 percent of the time to complete.
The fast time is due to the exclusivity of the centers solely servicing Lyft drivers—as well as the centers’ setup. Lyft’s goal is to design the centers with smaller repairs entering the building through a separate entryway than larger repairs, to maximize flow.
According to Lyft, they will be offering services at cost, with discounts up to 50 percent on maintenance, repairs, car washes and more.
The service centers will be placed where drivers frequently pick up passengers. Mobile service opportunities are also on the horizon.
Currently, Lyft service centers are viable to any Lyft driver—there are no restrictions on how many miles are driven or number passengers picked up.
