Car2go
Car2go (English car " car " to go " to go"; in German as: " car to go" ) is a car-sharing provider of the German car manufacturer Daimler and the car rental company Europcar. It is offered in various inner cities of several countries. In Europe and North America car2go can be used in 25 cities of more than 500,000 registered customers. Than 1,200 of the approximately 10,500 vehicles are equipped with battery-electric drive. In Germany, car2go operates in seven cities with over 3000 vehicles and has 160,000 registered users.
In contrast to classic car hire, where you rents a car at a fixed location and typically returns after one or more days, the so-called Free Floating Car use a free of parked vehicles in urban areas with minute timing is possible. Direct competitors with the same concept for car2go in Germany are DriveNow (BMW and Sixt ) and Multi City (PSA Peugeot Citroën with DB Rent ).
After completion of two pilot projects, car2go has been located since 2012 in the implementation phase. The fleet consists of two-seater, powered by electricity or internal combustion engine the smart fortwo micro car brand from the company owned car production range.
Social structure
Car2go is a joint project of Daimler AG and Europcar. The car2go GmbH based in Ulm is owned by Daimler AG. The car2go Europe GmbH has its headquarters in Stuttgart and is a joint venture of car2go GmbH (75 %) and Europcar (25 %). In this society the individual national companies in Europe are pooled. In Germany there are next to the car2go GmbH Germany car2go GmbH in Ulm. On 20 November 2012, the car2go GmbH Germany took over the business operations for the car2go GmbH in Ulm. At the turn of 2012/2013 the car2go GmbH was renamed to Daimler Mobility Services GmbH, future summarized in Daimler various mobility services under their own roof. Other regional companies are the car2go GmbH Austria in Austria, car2go NA LLC in the U.S. and car2go Canada Ltd. in Canada.
The car2go mobility service
Mobility concept
Unlike some other car-sharing programs, such as at Cambio Carsharing or mobile city, are at car2go vehicles are not positioned at fixed rental stations, but freely distributed over the city. Customers can locate the nearest vehicle on the Internet via smartphone apps or via telephone hotline and spontaneously rent. The user must set to rental date neither on time nor a return to a drop off, but can the vehicle after use park in a parking lot in the city.
The parking regulations differ depending on the city. Thus, the car2go vehicles in Austin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin may be parked free of charge on any urban managed parking, while car2go drivers can stop the rent only toll-free, public parking in Ulm or inner city with the help of a park map free access have parking garages.
Since it is an urban mobility concept for short-term rentals car2go, the billing is per minute and includes kilometers traveled, insurance, fuel and parking fees. Customers pay a one-time registration fee, but otherwise, no deposit or monthly or annual membership fees.
Pilot projects
Car2go launched an initial pilot project in October 2008 in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, followed by a second pilot project in November 2009 in the Texan capital of Austin. From August 2010 to March 2011 led car2go by a test with selected user groups in Vancouver, Canada.
Implementation phase / current development
Germany
Since March 2009, the fleet of 200 smart fortwo vehicles in Ulm and the neighboring Bavarian city of Neu -Ulm is open to the public.
In spring 2011 car2go launched with a fleet of 300 vehicles in Hamburg, which has now been increased to 700 vehicles.
Since the contract with the city of Dusseldorf in January 2012 there car2go in 12 cities across North America and Europe. In Dusseldorf car2go occurs for the first time directly against competitors DriveNow.
In Berlin car2go launched April 26, 2012, initially with 1000 vehicles. As of October 2012, the fleet was increased by 200 vehicles. The more than 25,000 registered customers use the vehicles over 20,000 times in a week (as of November 2012). 2013 should be integrated additional 300 smart electric drive in the fleet, of which a few were already available in 2012 for station -bound rent.
North America
The system operated with 200 vehicles pilot project in Austin was made available after successful tests in May 2010, the entire population. In December 2012, car2go launched with 330 smart fortwo in Seattle.
In June 2011 car2go launched in Vancouver with 225 vehicles
Further development
After merger of Daimler and Europcar car2go for Germany is planned in the near future 40-50 cities in Europe and North America to equip with the mobile car sharing.
In March 2011, so far 200 per vehicle in Ulm and Austin were replaced by per 300 vehicles of the newly developed smart " car2go edition " with a solar roof.
In autumn 2011, Amsterdam and San Diego followed with a fleet of 300 smart electric drive. On December 5, 2011 in Vienna, car2go began operations.
On February 1, 2012 Lyon followed with 200 vehicles. After losing a trademark dispute with the French car rental CarGo, had car2go operation in June 2012 relist.
Since December 4, 2012 in London car2go is available with 500 Smart car for the first time in the UK.
In February 2013, Daimler introduced the cooperation with " Car2Share " the company car Netzer. This involves the hiring of the private car to others ( "private car-sharing ").
In May 2013 car2go launched in the second largest city of the United Kingdom, Birmingham.
On June 8, 2013 started with car2go Denver with 300 vehicles, the seventh branch in the United States.
Since 18 December 2013 the Stuttgart car2go business area around the cities of Böblingen, Sindelfingen, Esslingen and Gerlingen has been extended. At the same time, the Stuttgart fleet has been increased from 450 smart fortwo electric drive at 500. In addition, the developed cities 50 more charging stations were set up.
As of August 2013 ( from mid-September 450 vehicles ) started with car2go Milan with first 150 vehicles, the first store in Italy.