Zipcar announces Toronto as fastest growing market in company history, already exceeding 1,000 members

New partnership with University of Toronto expected to further increase membership

Toronto, Ontario (September 7, 2006) — Zipcar, North America's largest car sharing service, today announced that Toronto is the fastest market to attain 1,000 members in the history of the company. Since launching its Toronto service in June, Zipcar has welcomed a record-setting 1,000+ Toronto members and has rapidly placed 100 vehicles in more than 45 locations around the city, with plans to double its fleet over the next several months.

"This early success demonstrates that Torontonians are ready to embrace car sharing," says Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith. "Savvy urbanites and business owners realize they don't have to be tied down by the burden of car ownership or high gas prices. By joining Zipcar, our members have access to a car by the hour or by the day, allowing them to realize all of the benefits of car ownership without the hassles and costs."

Zipcar, today, also announced its first university car sharing program in Toronto through an unprecedented partnership with the University of Toronto. The new program will provide both students and faculty with an ongoing membership discount and easy access to an assortment of cars parked permanently on the university campus and around downtown Toronto. Zipcar is the only car sharing company currently offering service to members ages 21 and up and is the first to roll out a university-wide program in Toronto. Similar Zipcar partnerships have already proven successful at more than 30 universities throughout the U.S.

"This is a new option for university students and faculty who want to travel off campus to attend interviews, run errands or take a weekend trip home," says Griffith. "And it eliminates hundreds of dollars in monthly personal transportation costs such as gas, insurance and maintenance, which are included in Zipcar's rates. In essence, we are lowering the overall cost of attending university in Toronto."

Zipcar attributes its rapid success in Toronto to its easy-to-use, fully-automated membership experience, a selection of 13+ vehicle makes and models, and community marketing efforts aimed at educating local residents and businesses about the benefits and savings associated with car sharing. Additionally, all Zipcar reservations include gas, reserved parking, insurance and 150 kilometres per 24-hour period. Surveys conducted by Zipcar indicate that members save more than $5,000 a year using car sharing compared to car ownership, and 40% of members shed their cars or stop a purchasing decision.

Soaring fuel prices have also contributed to Zipcar's rapid success. A survey conducted during the summer on the streets of Toronto indicated that the high cost of gas has driven many people to use alternatives like car sharing, public transportation and biking with increasing frequency. With gas prices in Toronto hovering around the $1 per litre mark, this growth is not likely to slow down.

The Zipcar website, recently listed as one of Time Magazine's 50 Coolest Websites, makes it easy to apply and reserve cars online. And Zipcar's state-of-the-art, award-winning technology makes picking up a reserved car as easy as getting cash from an ATM – members simply use their Zipcard – no key required.

About Zipcar
With more than 70,000 consumer and business drivers, Zipcar is North America's largest car sharing service. The company currently operates 1,800 vehicles in 12 states and provinces, including metropolitan Toronto, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis, 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. With Zipcar, gas, parking and insurance are always included. Torontonians never pay a deposit or monthly fees and only need to be 21+ to join. For more information, visit www.zipcar.com.

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