San Francisco-based car-sharing company Turo has found itself under scrutiny following two deadly attacks on New Year's Day, both involving vehicles rented through its platform. The company's CEO, Andre Haddad, expressed outrage and sorrow over the incidents, which have raised serious questions about the misuse of their service.
On January 1, 2025, one of the attacks took place when a military veteran driving a Ford F-150 Lightning drove through a crowd, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 15 lives. Shortly afterward, another perpetrator, identified as an active-duty Green Beret, rented a Tesla Cybertruck and detonated it outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, taking his own life amid the chaos.
Responding to these events, Haddad shared his dismay and heartbreak. He stated, "It's been about 48 hours since the horrific attacks... I'm shocked, saddened, and... just simply heartbroken." The gravity of the situation prompted Turo to investigate how its platform could be exploited for such heinous acts.
Despite the appalling nature of the actions taken by the assailants, Haddad noted, "These individuals had valid driver's licenses, clean criminal backgrounds..." This raises troubling concerns about safety and oversight within peer-to-peer car rental platforms like Turo. He emphasized, "We do not believe these two individuals would have been flagged by anyone — including law enforcement." The incidents challenge the effectiveness of the safety measures many such platforms have implemented.
Turo, often likened to Airbnb for cars, has facilitated around 27 million trips over the course of its 12 years of operations, with fewer than 0.10% resulting in serious incidents, such as vehicle theft. Nonetheless, this tragic occurrence reflects badly on the platform’s image, forcing the company to look more critically at its trust and safety protocols.
According to Haddad, Turo employs over 50 internal and external data sources to develop its proprietary Turo Risk Score—a multi-layer, data-science-based system intended to evaluate potential renters. "We’ve spent these tense, mournful hours investigating, partnering with law enforcement, and working around the clock to figure out how our platform could be misused by the perpetrators of such atrocities," he said.
Even so, there are still questions about the thoroughness of Turo's screening processes. For years, there have been reports of bad actors slipping through the cracks, which has embroiled the company in controversy over the use of its vehicles for illicit activities, including human and drug trafficking. But the latest events magnify these concerns seriously, as both attackers had exemplary records and credentials.
Haddad continued, remarking on the significant responsibility of ensuring community safety: "Despite this strong track record, and as an immediate next step... we’re consulting with national security and counterterrorism experts to learn more about how we can get even greater and play our part in helping prevent anything like this from happening ever again." Such commitments come as the company must now navigate the heavy backlash and public scrutiny following the New Year’s Day attacks.
Critics are questioning whether Turo's existing measures are sufficient. How can they prevent similar events? What reforms and enhancements are necessary for this peer-to-peer platform to bolster public confidence? While Haddad insists on his commitment to improve, the company’s reputation will take time to rebuild.
The tragedies of January 1, 2025, serve as sobering reminders of the vulnerabilities inherent within new sharing economy models like Turo. They highlight the need for rigorous, proactive measures to identify potential threats, ensuring users of such platforms are not only safe but also not utilized as vehicles for mass violence.
While Turo faces uncertain times, Andre Haddad remains dedicated to sustaining secure and trustworthy service. "2025 is off to an awful start... While I mourn today, I also remain committed to... building a strong, secure, trustworthy marketplace for tomorrow," he concluded, reaffirming his resolve to alter the status quo and provide safety for users and community members alike.