Austin based car2go carsharing creates new services as they expand

Austin is recognized around the world for its quality of life which is usually defined in terms of music, art, technology and a comfortable and welcoming lifestyle experience.

However, there is another facet of the Austin experience – known in major cities around the world – that adds to the quality of life in Austin and it centers on those little blue and white Smart cars we all see running around the city with the car2go logo on the side.

Though most people in Austin recognize the car2go logo and generally know it is a point-to-point carsharing company that is used by city area residents – what they do not know is that it is the fastest growing carsharing company in the world – starting right here in Austin back in 2010.

Recently, car2go opened their seventh U.S. operation in Denver, Colo. and now serves ten cities in North America with the three in Canada.

Today, the car2go carsharing experience is available 20 cities worldwide with over 7,000 cars in service meeting the 24/7 point-to-point transportation needs of more than 375,000 member-users.

The car2go fleet vehicle is the well-regarded Daimler smart fortwo urban vehicle which provides a highly maneuverable city car that is small yet has plenty of room for two plus cargo and is economical to operate and available in both gas and all-electric versions.

Though it started with the gas engine version, today car2go operates several hundred electric smart fortwo vehicles as part of their city operating fleets worldwide. San Diego, Calif. was the first U.S. city to be all-electric with 321 in service. Austin now has 18 all electric smart fortwo cars in addition to the 300 gasoline versions available for its more than 32,000 members in the Austin area. Learn about wrapping a car to build brand awareness.

As part of their ongoing efforts to develop and offer more services to their customer base, car2go has developed two concepts here in Austin that offer additional convenience for the car2go user.

Members needing to go to the Austin airport (ABIA) for travel out of town, may now pick up a Flex Fleet Rental vehicle in the city, load their bags and drive out to the airport, park the car in a reserved spot, close their rental and take the shuttle into the airport. When returning, they need only reserve their car2go vehicle in advance and, when they get off the plane, take the shuttle to the reserved parking location, initiate their rental and drive home and for those who want something a bit more exclusive, they also offer 24/7 luxury car rental services. 

This new airport service is operated by car2go through arrangement with The Parking Spot airport parking company who provides the reserved parking slots at the front of their lot and shuttles the car2go member to and from the airport on their bus. When you consider the cost and availability of parking at ABIA, the car2go option is an attractive option for city dwelling members.

Austin is a quality of life city that features many music and entertainment opportunities for residents all around the city all year long. The car2go program allows users to attend these concerts or other events without the hassle of finding parking with the designated (and free) parking spaces located all around the city including many close to entertainment venues.

Now, car2go makes it even more convenient for their members to use car2go with the introduction this summer of a valet drop-off program for the KGSR Blues on the Green concert series at Zilker Park this summer and the Sound and Cinema series being held at the Long Center in June, July and August.

There will be car2go Drop Zones near the entrance to the venues manned by carsharing personnel who will assist you when you arrive to end your rental and take the car away for you. No parking hassle and point-to-point car service for the member attending the event.

In Austin and around the world, car2go is leading the way in developing and offering affordable and flexible urban transportation options for city dwellers as they continue their expansion of operating locations along with complimenting services such as the airport and event valet service programs – all developed right here in Austin.

For more information on the program, the costs or how to become a member, go to www.austincar2go.com.