Alibaba’s map app AutoNavi wants to revive the umbrella sharing economy

The Alibaba-owned map app AutoNavi is bringing umbrella sharing back to China. And the service comes at no extra cost to users of the app’s ride-hailing service.

Image credit: AutoNavi

Umbrellas were briefly one of the hot items that became part of China’s sharing economy craze over the last several years. Bike-sharing pioneers Ofo and Mobike would become some of the biggest beneficiaries of this trend until the bubble popped. It got to a point where smartphone users could rent out seemingly anything, from power banks to entire kitchens.

See also: Shared powerbanks: A billion-dollar opportunity or fool’s gold?

But the umbrella trend didn’t last. One Chinese company reported that it lost most of its 300,000 umbrellas mere weeks into its rental operation. And so ended plans to make shared umbrellas the next hot thing in China’s sharing economy – until now.

AutoNavi announced on its Weibo account on Sunday that its first batch of shared umbrellas are now available in select cities across the country. In case of sudden showers, users of the platform’s ride-hailing service will be able to get an umbrella from their drivers for free.

While AutoNavi told users to return the umbrellas the next time they take a ride, it did not explain how it aims to retrieve them from forgetful passengers or thieves. The scheme, which involves a partnership with weather.com.cn, will also include shared raincoats at two shopping center chains in Beijing.

South China Morning Post is owned by Alibaba.