From One Car to a Growing Fleet: How a Tarneit Business Is Powering Melbourne's Rideshare Economy

When Usman Hassan started Baraka Car Rentals in 2019, his entire fleet consisted of a single vehicle. Six years later, the Tarneit-based business has grown to more than 90 Toyota hybrid vehicles, serving Uber and DiDi drivers across Melbourne's western suburbs.

The growth reflects a broader shift in how Australians are approaching rideshare work. As the gig economy has expanded, more drivers are looking for flexible, low-risk ways to access a compliant vehicle without the upfront cost or long-term commitment of ownership. Demand for rideshare rentals Melbourne services has grown steadily as a result, and Baraka Car Rentals built its business model around exactly that need.

"A lot of people want to drive for Uber or DiDi but don't have a car that meets the platform's requirements, or don't want to take on a car loan just to try it out," said Hassan. "We removed that barrier."

The company's fleet is exclusively Toyota hybrids, including Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and Kluger models, chosen for their fuel efficiency and reliability under the high mileage conditions of daily rideshare driving. Vehicles are available on weekly or daily hire, with rideshare insurance, servicing and roadside assistance included in the price, and no lock-in contracts.

Based at 16 Ishtar Street in Tarneit, the business primarily serves drivers across Wyndham and Melbourne's western suburbs, an area that has seen rapid population growth and a corresponding rise in rideshare demand. Suburbs including Truganina, Werribee, Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing, Wyndham Vale and Williams Landing have all experienced significant residential development in recent years, and with that growth has come increased reliance on rideshare and delivery services for daily transport.

Hassan attributes the company's expansion to a straightforward focus on reliability and customer service, alongside steady reinvestment of profits back into the fleet. "Every vehicle we add goes straight back into growing what we can offer drivers," he said.

The shift toward fleet based access reflects changing attitudes among gig economy workers more broadly. Rather than committing to a vehicle purchase before knowing whether rideshare driving suits their lifestyle, an increasing number of new drivers are choosing to test the work first, using a rental vehicle that already meets platform requirements. This lower-commitment approach has become particularly common among drivers balancing rideshare work with other employment, study, or family responsibilities.

This approach removes several common barriers to entry. Vehicle age and condition requirements set by Uber and DiDi can be difficult for casual or first time drivers to navigate, particularly when balancing the cost of an eligible car against uncertain early earnings. Renting allows drivers to begin working immediately, without a loan application, vehicle inspection process or large initial outlay. For many drivers, this removes the single biggest obstacle between deciding to try rideshare work and actually getting on the road.

Hybrid vehicles in particular have become the preferred choice for rideshare fleets across Melbourne. Lower fuel consumption directly improves a driver's per trip margin, especially over long shifts or during periods of high fuel prices. The reduced running costs, combined with strong reliability records, make hybrids a practical fit for vehicles that may be on the road for ten or more hours a day. Toyota's hybrid range in particular has built a reputation in the rideshare industry for low running costs and minimal downtime, both of which directly affect how much a driver can earn in a given week.

For Baraka Car Rentals, growth has also meant building out support infrastructure beyond the vehicles themselves. The company maintains its own servicing arrangements and a dedicated customer support function to assist drivers with day to day issues, from minor vehicle concerns to questions about platform compliance. This support layer has become an increasingly important differentiator for rental providers, as many new drivers value having a single point of contact for both vehicle and platform related questions rather than navigating multiple service providers separately.

The business has also expanded its service offering to include vehicles suited to UberXL and larger group bookings, recognising that not all rideshare and delivery work fits a standard sedan. Family sized hybrids such as the Toyota Kluger have become increasingly popular among drivers looking to service higher capacity ride requests, which often carry better per trip earnings.

As Melbourne's western suburbs continue to grow, businesses like Baraka Car Rentals are positioning themselves as essential infrastructure for the rideshare economy, providing the vehicles that keep the city's growing fleet of Uber and DiDi drivers on the road. With population growth in Melbourne's west showing no signs of slowing, demand for accessible, compliant rideshare vehicles is expected to continue rising through 2026 and beyond.