What to know about Turo, the app both trucks used in New Orleans and Las Vegas incidents came from

This week’s deadly incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas have thrust Turo, a car rental platform, into the spotlight, after the cars used in both attacks were rented through its marketplace.

This week’s deadly incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas have thrust Turo, a car rental platform, into the spotlight, after the cars used in both attacks were rented through its marketplace. Turo calls itself a “peer-to-peer car sharing service,” meaning users can rent cars through the app directly from their owners, as opposed to traditional rental companies like Hertz and Avis, which own the rental fleets themselves directly. Think Airbnb, but for cars. And although it’s been around for years — it launched in several US markets in 2010 and went national two years later – it gained popularity starting in 2021, when a car shortage caused prices to rent from traditional rental services to spike. The attacks could be a major black eye for Turo, which has been angling for what could be a lucrative initial public offering. The company previously acknowledged the risk of financial and brand damage from fatalities and other incidents that could be caused by vehicles rented on its platform. In a statement on Wednesday, the company confirmed with a “heavy heart” that vehicles rented on the platform were involved in the two attacks. “Our trust and safety team is actively partnering with law enforcement authorities to share any information that could be helpful in their investigations,” Turo said in a statement. “We do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related. Turo is dedicated to fostering a trustworthy marketplace.”