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Zipcar Speeds into Vancouver

World's Largest Car Sharing Service Continues Aggressive International
Expansion with Company's Largest Launch to Date
CAMBRIDGE, MA, (April 5, 2007) — Zipcar,
the world’s largest car sharing company, today launched service
in Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver is Zipcar’s largest market
launch to date, with 100 cars hitting the streets of Vancouver immediately
to help ease the pains of parking and traffic congestion and provide an
affordable transportation alternative to the city’s 600,000 urban
residents.
Zipcar became the first North American car sharing company to go international
when it launched Zipcar-Canada in Toronto, Ontario during the summer of
2006. It then launched its first overseas market in November, 2006 with
the opening of its London operations. With expansion to Vancouver, Zipcar
now operates in the neighborhoods of nearly 23 million people, further
opening up car sharing to a mainstream, urban population.
"Vancouver is a world-class city with great potential for our business.
That is why we are commencing operations with our largest initial fleet
to date in Vancouver," said Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith. "With recent upgrades
to our proprietary web reservation and back-end management systems, we
are well prepared to deliver superior service to our global membership
base."
With Zipcar, Vancouver individuals and businesses seeking an alternative
to the hassles and high costs of car ownership now have more viable transportation
options. Recent studies by Zipcar indicate that members drive less and
are more likely to walk, bike, and use of public transportation. Environmental
benefits include an 80% decrease in vehicle kilometers driven per year
by Zipcar members, thus reducing gas and emissions from going into the
atmosphere. Additionally, Zipcar members report an average savings of
more than $435 (approx. $500 CAD) per month compared to the costs of owning
and operating a private car. With an average of 40% of Zipcar members
getting rid of their vehicles or deciding not to purchase one, each Zipcar
in Vancouver is expected to take 15-20 privately owned vehicles off the
streets, significantly decreasing parking issues and traffic congestion.
Beginning today, Zipcar will place 100 vehicles in many locations throughout
the Downtown, Kitsilano, Fairview, Commercial Drive and Mount Pleasant
neighborhoods of Vancouver. Zipcars industry-leading selection of 11 makes
and models of vehicles in Vancouver will range from standard sedans to
small SUV’s and luxury vehicles.
Worldwide, Zipcar continues to see 100%+ annual increases in members and
vehicles and became the first car sharing service in North America to
attain profitability in all of its established markets. Zipcar has the
largest active membership base of any car sharing service, with more than
90,000 members and 2,500 vehicles.
To celebrate the launch in Vancouver, residents and businesses can now
join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com for
only a $25 one time application fee and $55 annual fee. Rates in Vancouver
start at $8.30 CAD per hour and $59 CAD per day (any 24 hour period),
with gas, parking and insurance included. To join, residents simply need
to have a valid drivers license, be 21+ and meet safe driving standards.
Additionally, every Zipcar reservation includes 150 free kilometers and
there are never any monthly fees, costly deposits or hidden charges.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is a leading urban lifestyle brand that provides an alternative
to car ownership to more than 90,000 consumer and business drivers worldwide.
By providing urbanites with hourly and daily access to cool, affordable
and conveniently-located vehicles, Zipcar has grown to be the world’s
largest and fastest growing car sharing service, currently operating more
than 2,500 vehicles in London and 14 North American states and provinces,
including metropolitan New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis,
Toronto, Washington, DC and Vancouver. With Zipcar's award-winning 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 any Zipcar across North America and the United Kingdom using
a "Zipcard" to simply unlock the door and drive away. For more
information, visit http://www.zipcar.com.
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