SMARTCars
SMARTCars is a Chicago-based chauffeured ground transportation company founded in 1994 that serves corporate, private aviation, and event clients with a fleet ranging from sedans to coach buses, operating directly in Chicago and through a 500+ city global affiliate network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersSchiller Park, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SMARTCars does
SMARTCars is a Chicago-based chauffeured ground transportation company serving corporate and executive clients in the Chicago metropolitan area and, through a vetted global affiliate network, in 500+ cities worldwide. Founded in 1994 by Stuart Rothstein — a former CBOE floor trader — the company positioned itself between taxi cabs and stretched limousines, offering professional, individually tailored transportation for business travelers, private aviation clients, and event organizers.
The fleet spans executive and luxury sedans (Lincoln MKS, Mercedes S Class), SUVs (Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, Ford Explorer), Mercedes Sprinter vans, and coach buses for groups of 15-55 passengers. The technology stack is built around an integrated reservation and fleet management system branded as the "Santa Cruz" platform, augmented by proprietary features including AVAN (an automated vehicle arrival notification system tied to FBO/private hangar movements), real-time worldwide flight tracking with delay detection, GEO-fencing for group coordination, a pricing database exceeding 2.5 million values, a worldwide rendezvous procedures database, and iOS/Android mobile apps for vehicle tracking and chauffeur communication.
SMARTCars operates a transaction-fee revenue model on a quote-based pay-as-you-go basis with no surge pricing; recommended gratuities are optional. Distribution is direct-to-enterprise through 24/7 phone reservations, a white-labeled online booking portal (book.mylimobiz.com), and mobile applications, with international fulfillment handled through vetted affiliate operators under standards enforced by the head office. The company is private, founder-controlled, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding.
SMARTCars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMARTCars
- Legal name
- SmartCars Inc.
- Website
- https://smartcarsinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SMARTCars is a Chicago-based chauffeured ground transportation company founded in 1994 that serves corporate, private aviation, and event clients with a fleet ranging from sedans to coach buses, operating directly in Chicago and through a 500+ city global affiliate network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMARTCars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Chauffeured Ground Transportation
- NAICS
- Limousine Service (48532), Taxi and Limousine Service (4853)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Sedan & Executive Car Rentals (THADAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Luxury SUV & Performance SUV Rentals (THADAMAC)
Keywords
Where SMARTCars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schiller Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SMARTCars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Chauffeured Transportation Services: Transaction-based transportation services including point-to-point transfers, hourly charters, airport transfers, and event transportation. Pricing is quote-based with no surge pricing; gratuities are recommended but optional.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based corporate transportation pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
SMARTCars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMARTCars is a Chicago-based chauffeured ground transportation company that provides corporate executives, business travelers, meeting and event planners, and private aviation clients with point-to-point transfers, hourly charter service, airport transfers, worldwide transportation coordination, meeting and event group transportation, and FBO/private hangar pickups. The company operates its own fleet of luxury sedans, SUVs, vans, and buses and extends global coverage through a managed network of 500+ vetted affiliate operators, with technology integration covering real-time flight tracking, GPS vehicle tracking, AVAN arrival notifications, and a mobile app.
Product overview
SMARTCars is a Chicago-based chauffeured transportation company operating a fleet-centric service portfolio spanning luxury sedans (Lincoln MKS, Mercedes S Class), SUVs (Ford, Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade), passenger vans (Mercedes Sprinter), and buses (15-55+ passengers). The core offering combines point-to-point transfers, hourly charters, and worldwide affiliate network coverage (500+ cities). Digital add-ons include iOS/Android mobile apps for vehicle tracking and chauffeur communication, an online booking platform, and expense reporting tools. The service emphasizes personalized profiles, flight-integrated scheduling, and GEO-fenced group coordination for events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Airport Transfer Service Chauffeured airport pickup and drop-off service with worldwide flight tracking and automated delay detection; chauffeurs wait at arrivals with real-time flight updates for seamless pickups, intended for corporate and business travelers arriving or departing airports.
- Point-to-Point Service Direct chauffeured transportation between two locations using newer-model vehicles and professional chauffeurs, available 24/7 including holidays, with integrated reservation systems and no surge pricing, for executive and business clients.
- Hourly / Charter Service Flexible as-directed chauffeured transportation where clients determine pickup time and duration, with services including route preparation, provisioning for food and drinks, and navigation assistance, intended for executives and business travelers needing multi-stop or unscheduled itineraries.
- Worldwide Transportation Service Single-contact coordination of chauffeured transportation in 500+ cities worldwide through a network of vetted affiliate operators meeting consistent standards for insurance, licensing, chauffeur background checks, dress codes, and vehicle age, intended for corporate clients with global ground transportation needs.
- Meeting and Event Planning Transportation Coordinated chauffeured transportation for corporate events, conferences, and meetings for groups of 10 to 500, including airport greeting, vehicle allocation, GEO-fenced arrival notifications, and transportation between venues, restaurants, and local attractions, intended for meeting and event planners.
- Private Aviation (FBO/Hangar) Service Chauffeured ground transportation for private aviation clients at FBOs and private hangars, with real-time flight integration, advance chauffeur staging, and the proprietary AVAN (Automated Vehicle Arrival Notification) system so chauffeurs are present as aircraft taxi in.
- SmartCars Mobile App (iOS and Android) Mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling clients to track arriving vehicles, communicate with chauffeurs, and manage reservations on the go.
- SmartCars Online Booking Platform White-labeled web booking platform at mylimobiz.com for reservation management, quote requests, account access, and on-line reservations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.7% incident-free travel rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SMARTCars
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SMARTCars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
SMARTCars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- 500+ Global AffiliatescoreSMARTCars maintains a network of 500+ vetted affiliate operators across the US and worldwide. Affiliates are hand-picked and vetted through a rigorous process ensuring consistent standards: agreed-upon insurance levels, licensing requirements, chauffeur background checks, professional capabilities, dress codes, and appropriate vehicle type and age requirements. SMARTCars remains fully involved in quality of services provided by affiliates and coordinates all client needs through the main office.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SMARTCars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Carey International: Premier chauffeured transportation company with a global affiliate network serving corporate, airport, and event clients. Directly comparable to SMARTCars in business model (chauffeur-driven executive cars with affiliate coverage worldwide) and customer base.
- Empire CLS: Corporate chauffeured transportation provider with a comparable mix of executive sedans, SUVs, and group vehicles. Competes head-to-head with SMARTCars in the premium corporate segment with similar focus on safety and personalized service.
- Boston Coach: Chauffeured ground transportation company serving corporate and leisure clients with a fleet of executive vehicles and a vetted affiliate network. Directly comparable to SMARTCars in offerings and target market.
- Blacklane: Global app-based chauffeur service offering airport transfers, hourly, and city-to-city rides in 50+ countries. Comparable to SMARTCars' chauffeured model but with a tech-forward, app-led positioning that competes for the same corporate travel budgets.
- Groundlink: US chauffeured transportation provider with a global affiliate network serving airport, corporate, and event clients. Directly comparable to SMARTCars in core offerings and customer profile.
- Reston Limousine: Regional chauffeured transportation company serving the Washington DC metro and global affiliate network. Comparable to SMARTCars in fleet mix (sedans, SUVs, coaches) and corporate/event focus.
- Aventura Limousine: Corporate chauffeured transportation company with global affiliate coverage serving airports, events, and executive clients. Comparable to SMARTCars in business model and target customers.
Broad incumbents
- Addison Lee: Large UK-based executive car and courier service with a sizable owned fleet and broad corporate accounts. Comparable in the chauffeured/executive car category but operates at significantly larger scale and primarily in the UK/European market.
Regional players
- Windy City Limousine: Chicago-based chauffeured transportation competitor offering executive sedans, SUVs, and group transportation for corporate and leisure clients. Directly competes with SMARTCars in the Chicago home market.
Emerging players
- ExecuCar: Premium executive car service associated with the Greater Chicago area, offering chauffeured transportation for corporate and airport clients. Comparable niche offering to SMARTCars but with smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SMARTCars social profiles
Digital presenceSMARTCars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMARTCars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SMARTCars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMARTCars M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SMARTCars
What does SMARTCars do?
SMARTCars is a Chicago-based chauffeured ground transportation company that provides corporate executives, business travelers, meeting and event planners, and private aviation clients with point-to-point transfers, hourly charter service, airport transfers, worldwide transportation coordination, meeting and event group transportation, and FBO/private hangar pickups. The company operates its own fleet of luxury sedans, SUVs, vans, and buses and extends global coverage through a managed network of 500+ vetted affiliate operators, with technology integration covering real-time flight tracking, GPS vehicle tracking, AVAN arrival notifications, and a mobile app.
Is SMARTCars a public or private company?
SMARTCars is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SMARTCars founded?
SMARTCars was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SMARTCars based?
SMARTCars is headquartered in Schiller Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does SMARTCars make money?
One revenue line is on record: chauffeured Transportation Services.
Who are SMARTCars's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Carey International, Empire CLS, Boston Coach, Blacklane, Groundlink, Reston Limousine and Aventura Limousine. Addison Lee is listed as a broad incumbent. Windy City Limousine is listed as a regional player. ExecuCar is listed as an emerging player.
Does SMARTCars have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMARTCars.
What industry is SMARTCars in?
SMARTCars's product category is Corporate Chauffeured Ground Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THADAMAB, Luxury Sedan & Executive Car Rentals, with a secondary code of THADAMAC, Luxury SUV & Performance SUV Rentals. Its NAICS code is 48532.