- New service gives members the freedom to pick up and drop off vehicles anywhere in the city
- World’s leading car-sharing network extends international footprint to seventh market in Europe
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept. 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network, today announces the full launch of its new free-floating car-sharing service in Brussels, Belgium. This marks the seventh major country launch for the brand in Europe and the introduction of its most flexible car- sharing service to date.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32c72c40-041f-4ca2-bda9-e44cae794a0a
Today’s launch is a pivotal milestone in Zipcar’s international expansion, which already includes a well-established presence in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Austria, Germany and Turkey. The launch represents a significant innovation in Zipcar’s offerings, and demonstrates a strategic decision to offer a range of alternative car-sharing models according to a city’s requirements.
The new service gives Zipcar members the freedom to pick up and drop off a Zipcar at any location within a set geographical area – a first for the global car club network. The service complements car-sharing models operated in other cities around the world, including round-trip and flexible one-way rentals, allowing the company to deliver on its commitment to work with city authorities and provide consumers and businesses with a practical alternative to car ownership in urban areas and congested cities.
Zipcar’s free-floating fleet will extend from 100 cars at launch to more than 250 within the first month. The Zipcars – all Peugeot 208s – can be picked up and dropped off in and around the Brussels-Capital Region, within a zone that includes 16 of the city’s 19 communes. The service will also be readily available to Brussel’s Zipcar members travelling to and from Zaventem Airport, the city’s international airport. Members can easily and spontaneously access a Peugeot 208 via the Zipcar app, giving them access to a versatile car that is well suited to life in the city with easy handling, low emissions and room for up to five people.
The free-floating service extends Zipcar’s international offering, which currently serves the needs of its members across 500 towns and cities globally with access to a wide range of vehicles. The car-sharing network also recently reached a milestone of one million members globally, highlighting the adoption of car-sharing services across the world.
Global membership in car-sharing services is projected to grow from less than 5 million in 2015 to 23.4 million in 2024, according to independent figures from Navigant, as consumers and businesses seek a more sustainable and economic alternative to car ownership, particularly in urban areas to supplement public transport infrastructure.
Zipcar International President Nicholas Cole said, “Today’s launch in Brussels marks a significant milestone for Zipcar. Not only are we extending our operations to another world-class city, but we are also excited to be launching our newest service, free-floating car sharing. Our proven ability in offering convenient access to a car, without the hassle of ownership, meets the need of our members to help them more easily navigate the city.” He added, “This development in our offering means that we are the first global car-sharing network to offer a variety of different car club models around the world, according to different cities’ requirements. We look forward to welcoming Belgian members to our network.”
Further information on how to become a Zipcar member in Brussels is available now at www.zipcar.be.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world’s leading car sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the hour or day, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in over 500 cities and towns across Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car sharing options available. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:CAR), a leading global provider of vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.