Airbnb has started offering car rentals in Brazil, making the service available in over 300 locations starting on Wednesday, the 30th. This new feature covers all capital cities and can be used even by users who do not yet have an accommodation reservation on the platform.
Brazil is the first country in South America to adopt this model, which is already operational in the United States, as well as in European and Asian markets. In addition to major centers like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília, the list of destinations includes notable tourist spots such as Fernando de Noronha, Jericoacoara, Porto Seguro, and Maragogi.
The vehicles are provided by partner rental companies, whose identities were not disclosed by the company. For customers with confirmed reservations, the app offers suggestions for cars near the accommodation, adapted to the group size. As an initial incentive, the first rental grants a 20% credit for a future stay, experience, or service on the platform. Additionally, users can obtain discounts of up to 20% on the rental value by choosing Airbnb's preferred partners.
According to the company itself, Brazil is established among its five most important global markets. In the second quarter of 2026, there was an increase of over 30% in overnight stays made by Brazilian travelers compared to the same period last year, and the number of first bookings grew by 40%.
This launch occurs at a positive time for the automotive sector. Data from the Brazilian Association of Car Rental Companies (ABLA) indicates that the revenue of the activity reached R$ 61.7 billion in 2025, representing a growth of 16.6% in one year. The fleet of cars and light commercial vehicles from rental companies exceeded 1.7 million units, an advance of 6.2%, and these companies accounted for 24.6% of national registrations.
With this addition, Airbnb now competes directly with other platforms that already offer vehicle rentals, such as Booking.com, Decolar, Expedia, Kayak, and CVC, as well as airlines that incorporate the service into their travel packages.
Pedro Brito, a retail specialist at PB Consultoria, assesses that this initiative is part of Airbnb's plan to consolidate itself as a complete travel platform. He argues that by integrating car rentals, Airbnb has the ability to 'capture a larger share of the traveler's journey.'
This move has a global character. During the second-quarter earnings call, held in August, Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, stated that car rental represents the new service with the greatest expansion potential, emphasizing that vehicle reservations tend to last longer than the average stay on the platform. In May, the company had already announced plans to add airport transfer services, luggage storage, and grocery delivery to the app.