From Smartcars to Zevo: Building a Rental Empire

Chaudhry’s transition into the rental market began in 2015 after a chance encounter with a client in Manhattan Beach who used a car-sharing app. After listing her first vehicle, she realized the efficiency of the model and quickly expanded, leasing additional cars to meet demand. She focused on mid-range luxury vehicles like BMWs and Corvettes to appeal to the greater Los Angeles tourist market, eventually generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenue while managing operations from a small leased lot.

Following the sale of her SaaS company, Chaudhry pivoted toward logistics and fleet management, documenting her journey on YouTube. This digital presence connected her with a business partner, leading to the 2021 launch of Zevo. The company shifted the focus toward electric vehicles, citing lower maintenance requirements and fewer moving parts as key operational advantages. Today, the platform serves a dual-sided marketplace, connecting vehicle owners—who manage fleets ranging from five to 250 cars—with gig workers seeking long-term rentals. Chaudhry remains committed to democratizing access to this asset class, recently returning to the platform as a host herself with a new Tesla.