June 28, 2017

Zipcar Officially Launches in Worcester, Massachusetts

WORCESTER, Mass., June, 28, 2017 – Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network, today announced a new partnership with the City of Worcester to bring its “wheels when you want them” membership service to area residents, businesses, visitors and students.  

Six Zipcars are now available for reservation by the hour or by the day in easily accessible locations downtown. The vehicles are parked in designated spots for convenient pick-up and drop-off and can be reserved in seconds on Zipcar’s mobile app, online or over the phone.

The Zipcar Worcester fleet features a variety of makes and models, including a Honda CR-V named “Raclette,” great for a weekend getaway, a Honda Civic dubbed “Boopie” to zip around town or a Ford Escape called “Eldrick” for a trip to the grocery store. Each reservation includes gas, insurance and 180 miles of driving per day, making it a great option for those looking for ways to save money on the high cost of car ownership. 

“We’re excited to bring Zipcar to Worcester as part of the city’s growing transportation network,” said Chris Moulding, Zipcar regional community marketing manager. “Our service gives members on-demand access to ‘wheels when they want them’ with the simple tap of a Zipcard, giving them freedom to get around without having to own a vehicle.”

The launch in Worcester builds on the company’s success at several universities in the area, including Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester State University. With a number of students already using Zipcar, the company was eager to expand its presence off-campus to provide more residents and visitors with convenient access to wheels where they live, work and play. Zipcar members can reserve and drive any of the company’s vehicles in Worcester as well as more than 12,000 vehicles in the company’s global fleet.

“The City of Worcester is constantly looking for ways to grow smartly and this agreement with Zipcar helps us do that by reducing the need for parking spaces downtown and giving our residents a more sustainable alternative to owning a car,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “As our downtown continues to grow and increasingly becomes a neighborhood where people work, play, and live, it is important for us to provide robust transportation options and this helps us achieve that goal.”

Local businesses in Worcester can benefit from Zipcar’s presence through the Zipcar for Business (Z4B) program, which offers discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. The Z4B program helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing employees with access to Zipcar for business needs and other uses.

“Zipcar is another way we’re opening up Worcester to visitors and making our city more accessible,” said Mayor Petty. “For residents who need a car for a weekend or people coming in on the train or on the bus for a day trip, it will allow them to see all that Worcester and Worcester County has to offer.”

Prospective members can join the service instantly on Zipcar’s mobile app. For more information on Zipcar in Worcester please visit: www.zipcar.com.

 

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, Spain, Taipei, Taiwan, 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.

 

About City of Worcester

With a population of more than 182,000 and more than 35,000 college students, Worcester is the second largest city in New England. Centrally located, the City is less than an hour from Boston, Providence and Hartford. To learn more about the “Heart of the Commonwealth” visit worcesterma.gov.

 

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Media Contacts:

Katelyn Chesley

Public Relations Manager, Zipcar

[email protected]

617.678.7206 

 

John F. Hill

Communications Specialist, City of Worcester

[email protected]

508.799.1175