OREANDA-NEWS. March 01, 2016. Zipcar, the world's leading car sharing network, today announced plans to launch a suite of new features representing the company's next generation of mobility services. Zipcar's new services include:
  • Choose your destination: Designated vehicles can be used either one-way or round trip, with parking included, providing members a variety of trip options.
  • Change destination mid-trip: Members can reserve a vehicle which can be returned to a different end destination as plans change during a trip, providing the freedom to enjoy the journey.
  • Extend reservations indefinitely: Members can continue the trip for as long as they choose.

Zipcar will now blend the best of its round-trip model — guaranteed parking, more than 50 vehicle types and advanced reservations — with the spontaneity and freedom of new flexible features, all available through the company's website or mobile app.

For Zipcar, which was founded 16 years ago and today serves nearly a million members, this marks a significant expansion of its pioneering service that will provide an even wider set of mobility solutions.  Zipcar will begin to roll out its new flexible service in select North American markets throughout the year, including Los Angeles in the coming weeks.  

"Zipcar is evolving to offer the most options, the most flexibility and the largest global network of any mobility provider," said Kaye Ceille president of Zipcar. "Combined with our global network in more than 500 cities and towns, our proven round-trip model, as well as a choice of more than 50 different makes and models, this ‘most flexible Zipcar yet' provides a comprehensive mobility service that solves transportation challenges for cities and enables our members even more freedom and spontaneity. We've known for the past 16 years that the future of mobility is paying for the trip, not the car, and this evolution will enable Zipcar to continue to lead the transformation in urban mobility."

As the company looks to 2017 and beyond, the service will continue to evolve with an even greater focus on flexible mobility solutions. Zipcar will provide members with not only the right car for the trip, but also a wider variety of trip types — round trip, one-way with parking, one-way and park where you choose, and even the option to travel between cities.

"Our members are co-creators of our service, and this inflection is a result of their feedback as well as key learnings from our ONE>WAY beta program in Boston and in various test markets," said Nichole Mace, vice president, product and member experience. "We plan to provide our members with the mobility solutions they want today, as well as have the foresight to provide members the solutions they will want tomorrow."

Over the past year, Zipcar has employed an extensive member research effort to determine the current and future needs of its evolving member base. This includes both qualitative and quantitative research, member and non-member focus groups, as well as in-depth member roundtable events where the company has flown in members from across North America to better understand their transportation needs.

Zipcar launched its ONE>WAY beta program in partnership with Honda in late 2014 in Boston.  At launch, Zipcar's new flexible offering will consist solely of select Honda vehicles including the Honda Fit — the fuel-efficient, versatile and fun subcompact that can fit up to five people and their gear. As a trusted mobility partner, additional Honda vehicles will be added into the service as it evolves.

For more than 15 years, members have trusted Zipcar for a variety of round trips from the ordinary (grocery store runs or a drive around town) to the extraordinary (weddings or bringing Baby home).  With the evolution of Zipcar's service offering, members will soon have more flexibility in the types of trips they can take.  More information is available at: www.zipcar.com/flexible.