General Motors aims to build Airbnb for car sharing services

General Motors Co. aims to build platforms such as Airbnb for car sharing services. The company plans to start a pilot program this summer that allows car owners to rent out their vehicles when they are not using.

The test will begin early in the summer through GM's Maven car-sharing unit. GM vehicle owners can put their cars on the Maven platform for other drivers to rent and share revenues with automakers. The test phase will be a full business scale if it works.

GM is in an effort to step forward in the transition from pure vehicle manufacturers to mobility providers. GM shares have stagnated for years and investors are anxious over auto sales and Silicon Valley's expansion in the auto industry. Stocks rose to a record high in October after plans and self-driving car services such as Maven attracted investors.

Maven units rent vehicles to drivers, including customers looking for cars in the short term. This scheme allows the owner of the vehicle to finance ownership or generate additional income. Tesla has hinted at a future peer-to-peer sharing network, although CEO Elon Musk alludes to a service that uses self-driving cars.