Bolt Drive and Lidl in Riga to let car-sharing users end trips at store car parks

Car-sharing operator Bolt Drive and the supermarket chain Lidl Latvija have launched a partnership in Riga. Starting 9 November, Bolt Drive users can begin and end car trips in the car parks of 20 Lidl stores across the Latvian capital. The companies say it is the first arrangement of its kind between a car-sharing operator and a retail chain in Latvia, and that it aims to improve access to mobility in Riga's residential neighbourhoods.

Until now, ending car-sharing trips in Lidl car parks was not permitted.

How it will work

Cars may be left in the car parks overnight and will be available to the next users in the morning. In the evening, drivers can combine the trip home with a shopping visit and end the journey at the store; in the morning they can start a trip closer to home without needing a private car.

The specific parking spaces for Bolt cars will not be marked. They, along with car availability, can be viewed in the Bolt Drive app.

Company comments

Edvīns Kažoks, head of Bolt Drive in Latvia, says the costs of owning and using a private car are rising, and finding parking is difficult not only in central Riga but also in apartment-block districts. In his view, the partnership with Lidl will make car-sharing more convenient for residents of Riga's neighbourhoods and offer an alternative to a private car.

Artūrs Hirkovskis, head of Lidl's Construction Department for the Baltic states, says the company also pays attention to the area around its stores: pedestrian paths, bicycle racks, junctions, landscaping and wider parking spaces. He expressed confidence that residents who choose car-sharing when going shopping will appreciate the new cooperation.

Lidl is marking its fifth anniversary in Latvia this year, and its store network has grown to 39 stores nationwide.