Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)
What Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is: trains, buses, car sharing, rental cars and micromobility on one platform, with planning, booking and payment in one place.
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a concept that brings different modes of transport, such as trains, buses, car sharing, rental cars, ride-hailing and micromobility, into one digital interface for routing, booking and payment.
Core Philosophy
The aim of MaaS is to make getting around reliable and convenient enough that owning a car becomes unnecessary. Instead of buying or financing a car, people use transport as they need it, paying per use or by subscription.
Key Layers of a MaaS Architecture
- Transport: Trains, buses, shared cars and charging points.
- Data: Real-time vehicle availability, positions, charge levels and timetables.
- Integration and APIs: Booking and payment interfaces that connect independent providers.
- App: One smartphone app to plan, book and pay for a trip.
MaaS in Switzerland
Switzerland's dense rail network (SBB/CFF/FFS) is a strong foundation for MaaS. Rental cars near stations can cover the onward journey where trains do not go. At DRAIV, cars in Zurich are parked near Zurich HB, in Oerlikon and in Altstetten, for example. For a provider-by-provider view, see car sharing in Switzerland compared.
Related Terms
Train to Zurich, then on by car
Our cars are parked near Zurich HB, in Oerlikon and in Altstetten, for example. Cars with instant booking unlock with your phone.
More Mobility Definitions
Car Rental Security Deposit (Kaution)
What a car rental security deposit is: why rental companies hold an amount on your card, what that means for your card limit and debit cards, and how renting without a card hold works.
Car subscription: what it is and how it differs from renting
A car subscription is a car you use for a fixed monthly fee. Unlike a rental, you commit for months, not for hours or days.
Deductible in Damage Protection (Selbstbehalt)
What a car rental deductible (excess) is: the most you pay if the car is damaged. How deductible tiers work and which three DRAIV offers.
Digital Handover & Damage Inspection Protocol
What a digital handover protocol is: timestamped photos record a rental car's condition at pickup and return, together with mileage and fuel level. How the walk-around works in an app.
Keyless Handover
What a keyless handover is: you unlock, drive and lock a rental or shared car with an app, with no key and no desk. How digital access works technically.