On Feb. 11, Lyft officially opened its 35,000 square-foot Driver Center at 1240 West Morena Blvd. The Bay Park facility, formerly Toys “R” Us, will serve as a one-stop-shop for thousands of Lyft drivers, providing them competitively-priced vehicle repairs, maintenance, and other services, along with other driver support.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Jerry Sanders, and other community leaders celebrated the opening of the Lyft Driver Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. They welcomed the facility to San Diego, which will provide 20 jobs – from vehicle service specialists to driver support and onboarding staff.
The building features a mural by Ocean Beach artist Celeste Byers that colorfully illustrates vehicles and scooters in what Byers describes as her “interpretation of Lyft’s future of travel … throughout some of the City’s most iconic landmarks.”
“We’re proud to open one of Lyft’s first Driver Centers in San Diego to further meet our drivers’ needs directly,” said Lyft Southern California general manager Hao Meng. “We know that maintaining a vehicle can add up and our goal is to service drivers’ vehicles in a timely and affordable way so they can get back on the road.”
Car service and repair shops currently available weren’t created with rideshare vehicles in mind so Lyft created its Driver Centers to function like race car pit stops, as several technicians work together to quickly complete repair work, allowing drivers to get back on the road as soon as possible and earn an income.
Vehicle services offered at the Driver Center include maintenance and routine services such as conventional or synthetic oil change, tire rotation, and replacement, brake pad replacement, wiper blade replacement, filter changes, spark plug replacement, battery replacement, and free diagnostic assessments.
The center also serves as a driver hub, providing drivers a comfortable place to relax in between rides, with access to bathrooms, Wi-Fi, coffee, lounge and workspaces and more. Drivers can connect in-person with community representatives for assistance, including vehicle inspections and app support.
The Express Drive program will also operate out of the San Diego Driver Center, connecting drivers to rental vehicles with standard maintenance and insurance coverage through a rental partner, Flexdrive. A rental fleet, including 100 hybrid vehicles, are available for Lyft drivers to rent as an alternative way to drive and earn.
The San Diego Driver Center follows launches in Austin, Texas; Denver; Phoenix; and San Francisco.
