Zipcar and IKEA Stoughton Team Up for a Meaty Contest and Donation

Cambridge, MA (January 20, 2006) — Zipcar, the nation's largest car sharing service, and IKEA Stoughton are giving Bostonians a chance to finally answer the age-old question, "How many meatballs fit into a MINI Cooper?" On Friday January 20, Zipcar and IKEA Stoughton are filling a MINI Cooper with IKEA's famous Swedish meatballs, and Bostonians will have a chance to guess how many meatballs can actually fit into the car. The person with the closest guess will receive a $250 IKEA gift certificate and a free one-year Zipcar membership with a $250 driving credit. After the contest, an equal amount of packaged meatballs will be donated to the Stoughton Food Pantry and the Greater Boston Food Bank. The event will take place outside Uno's Chicago Grill (22 J.F.K Street) in Harvard Square between 11AM and 2PM.

This event comes on the heels of IKEA Stoughton's recent partnership with Zipcar. Coinciding with the opening of IKEA's first Massachusetts location, IKEA incorporated the country's leading car sharing experience as an integral part of the new store, making IKEA Stoughton accessible to tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents and businesses without cars and helping to reduce traffic and car emissions and maximize parking. With the partnership, IKEA Stoughton became the first major U.S. retail store to reserve parking spaces for car sharing vehicles.

"Both Zipcar and IKEA share a commitment to the communities we serve", said Frank Briel, Store Manager of IKEA-Stoughton. "This event is a wonderful example of two popular urban brands coming together to support a wonderful cause and raise awareness in a fun and unique way."

As part of IKEA Stoughton's commitment to car sharing, five spaces in the store's parking lot are reserved as "Zipcar Only" spots. Six IKEA-branded Zipcars have been placed at Zipcar locations throughout Greater Boston and made available to all Zipcar members at a discount. Additionally, Zipcar members enjoy exclusive benefits, such as one free dinner in the store restaurant for each one purchased.

About Zipcar
Since 2000, when Zipcars first hit the road, over 50,000 consumers and business drivers ages 21+ have joined. Zipcar currently operates more than 1,000 vehicles in ten states including metropolitan New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC. With Zipcar's technology, accessing and using a Zipcar is as easy as getting cash from an ATM. In minutes or up to a year in advance, members can reserve Zipcars online or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Zipcar members have automated access to Zipcars using a "Zipcard" to simply unlock the door and drive away. Rates start at $8.50 per hour and $65 per day, with gas, parking and insurance included. Special business rates are also available for small to large sized companies looking for a more convenient and cost-effective way of providing transportation for their employees. For more information, visit www.zipcar.com.

About IKEA
IKEA, the leading home furnishings retailer founded in 1943, offers a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford them. IKEA has been ranked twice in FORTUNE magazine's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list and three times in both Working Mother's "100 Best Companies" and Training's "Top 100" ranking of companies that excel at human capital development. IKEA supports responsible business practices and innovative initiatives that help protect the environment and the future for children around the world. Currently, there are over 220 IKEA stores in 32 countries, 26 of which are in the U.S. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to http://www.IKEA-usa.com.