Communauto and Vrtucar merge to improve carsharing offer in Eastern Canada

MONTREAL, Jan. 11, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Communauto, a carsharing pioneer in North America and Vrtucar, the biggest carsharing service in Ottawa and Kingston, announced their merger enhancing the development of carsharing in Eastern Canada.

This alliance will consolidate the position of the largest group operating roundtrip carsharing service in Canada, serving from now on, cities of Halifax, Quebec, Sherbrooke, the metropolitan areas of Montreal, Gatineau, Ottawa and Kingston with 1800 cars and nearly 50 000 users. Vrtucar and Communauto will continue operating under their respective branding while improving opportunities for service growth and development in Canada's National Capital Region.

"The joining of Vrtucar into Communauto's group will create new synergies and increase our capacity to invest in the development of the network. We will continue the conversion of our fleet to hybrid-energy efficient cars and 100 % electric vehicles. We also wish to bring our long time expertise to Ottawa in developing free floating (Auto-mobile) and the round-trip carsharing", declares Benoit Robert, President and CEO of Communauto.

"By combining our strengths, Vrtucar will now be able to provide integrated sustainable mobility solutions throughout the National Capital Region, and be ready to answer an increased demand as a result of major investments in public transport (O Train in Ottawa and RapidBus in Gatineau), "said Wilson Wood, President Vrtucar.

The merger of Communauto and Vrtucar is another step in the partnership that in 2010 brought cross-use of round-trip carsharing vehicles for Ottawa and Gatineau residents. Since that first agreement, the companies have maintained exchanges on their expertise and seized every opportunity to consolidate their strengths.

About Communauto
Founded in 1994, Communauto is a Canadian carsharing company and the oldest in North America. The company is renowned worldwide for its vision of urban mobility, the vitality of its business model and its ability to innovate. Today, it owns 1,800 vehicles worldwide shared between 50 000 subscribers in Canada and in France (Paris). Communauto operates free floating and roundtrip car sharing systems and the largest electric fleet in Canada. The company is environmental and urban-oriented.

SOURCE COMMUNAUTO

Communauto, Brigitte Geoffroy, Public Affairs Advisor/Conseillère relations publiques, 514 499-2956, [email protected]