Read Time: 6 minutes
Tech Topics In This Article: Atlanta startups, consumer apps, AutoTech
From its headquarters in Atlanta, Swift Ride is bringing more mobility options to people looking to get on the road.
The app-based startup, run by CEO Sani Abdullah and COO Faizan Naveed, provides flexible car subscription options for those who need a car without owning or leasing a vehicle. After filling out an application on the startup’s app, users can rent vehicles based on their needs.
Swift Ride is looking to help gig workers, travelers, and everyday people find access to the cars they need with its growing fleet, which now includes over 30 vehicles in Atlanta.
“Car ownership has become financially out of reach for many Atlantans. Loans are predatory. Used car lots are filled with hidden fees. And yet, people need to get to work, to school, to opportunity,” the team said. “We created Swift Ride as a flexible, app-based alternative — no loans, no down payments, no dealership games.”
As Swift Ride gets off the ground (and on the road!), we asked Abdullah questions about the origins of the company and what opportunities the Swift Ride sees in their future.
Here’s a snippet of our Question & Answer session with Swift Ride:
QUESTION: Take us back to the start of Swift Ride. What was missing in the market of car subscriptions?
Swift Ride was born from a real problem we saw firsthand — people needed cars, but traditional ownership and leasing were expensive, rigid, and slow. Gig workers, newcomers to a city, or people in life transitions often didn’t qualify for leases or didn’t want to take on long-term debt. Existing car subscription services were either too expensive, too urban-centric, or lacked flexibility. We saw a gap for an affordable, app-based, weekly or monthly car subscription with insurance, maintenance, and virtual key access built in — so we built it.
QUESTION: How have you built up your fleet? How big is it and where are your cars located?
We started lean by acquiring 1 car, then grew through relationships with dealerships and fleet partners. Today, we have 30+ vehicles in Atlanta and recently launched a pilot program in Perth, Australia with 4 additional vehicles, testing international expansion. We prioritize high-utility vehicles with low maintenance needs, and our fleet is managed with telematics and remote key access.
QUESTION: Who do you consider your target customers?
Our core users are:
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Gig workers (rideshare/delivery drivers) who need flexible access to cars
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Travelers and digital nomads staying in a city for weeks/months
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Everyday people in life transitions—relocations, college, divorce, or temporary car replacement
They value flexibility, ease, and a fast onboarding process. Many are underserved by traditional car ownership or leasing models.
QUESTION: Why is Atlanta the right place to build this type of startup?
Atlanta is the perfect launchpad:
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A car-dependent city with limited public transportation
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A growing gig economy
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Diverse population and lower customer acquisition costs compared to other major metros
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Strong tech talent, logistics infrastructure, and cost-efficient market to test mobility models before scaling nationally
QUESTION: Are you bootstrapped or have you brought on outside capital?
We bootstrapped Swift Ride initially and recently opened up our first external raise. We’re currently raising $2M via Wefunder to scale the fleet, expand to more cities, and strengthen our tech platform. You can check out the campaign here: wefunder.com/swiftride
QUESTION: What is your business model? How do you make your money?
Our revenue comes from weekly or monthly subscription payments. Each subscription includes the car, insurance, maintenance, and access via virtual keys. We make money by optimizing:
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Utilization rate per vehicle
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Acquisition cost of the car vs. subscription income
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Add-ons like rideshare packages and extended mileage plans
QUESTION: Where do customers pick up their cars?
Currently, pickups happen at designated partner locations or our central lot in Atlanta customers can also ask for free delivery if the car is less than 25 miles from their location. Customers complete onboarding in the app, verify their license and documents, and are given digital key access via phone—no sales reps, no paperwork. In Australia, we’re working with a local fleet partner for pickups.