Smoother, Better, Faster, Smarter: car2go Rolls Out New Cars For Torontonians

One-Way Carsharing on the Rise as Company Crosses Two Million Global Member Milestone

TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2016 /CNW/ -- car2go, the largest, fastest-growing carsharing company in the world, announced that its 50,000-plus Toronto members can now enjoy driving new, more advanced car2go vehicles. Rolling out today in Toronto, the new vehicles deliver a smoother, faster and improved experience with the latest car2go technology. car2go's Toronto fleet of over 425 vehicles will continue to be upgraded through the end of the year.

As carsharing adoption continues to rise, car2go announced yesterday that after a significant 43-percent year-over-year growth, the company has crossed the two million global member milestone with 800,000 of those members in North America. Every 1.5 seconds, a car2go member takes a trip in one of the service's 14,000 vehicles serving car2go members in nine countries across three continents.

"As we cross the two million member milestone and see the growing demand for one-way carsharing, we are thrilled to upgrade the car2go experience for our Toronto members," said Mark Latchford, General Manager of car2go Toronto. "The new car2go is fully upgraded, lets you start and end trips faster, and is still small enough to fit into parking spaces no other car fits in. With members using our service for their daily commute, errand running, and just enjoying the city, we think Torontonians will love the new experience."

What's NEW about the new car2go?

Better. Faster. Smarter. Perfect adjectives for our new car2go:

• Unlocks in about five seconds, enabling members to quickly hop in and drive.
• Bluetooth access allows drivers and passengers to rock out to their own music and make hands-free calls.
• Seat warmers ensure car2go members can warm themselves up quickly on chilly days.
• The new car2go is wider, providing drivers and passengers with a roomier interior and additional trunk storage space.
• A more powerful motor and a new six-speed twinamic dual-clutch transmission provide the smoothest, quickest car2go ride ever.
• An incredibly small turning radius means the new car2go can almost literally turn on a dime.
• Cutting-edge safety features in the new smart fortwo car2go include a rigid Tridion safety shell made of ultra-high strength steel, crosswind assist that automatically compensates for strong gusts of wind to keep drivers on-course, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability (known as ESP® in most cars), and airbags for drivers and passengers. 

The new cars will appear in the car2go app as the "fortwo new," with a photo of the newly designed vehicle so that car2go members can easily find and drive the new cars. Prior generation vehicles will appear in the car2go app as "fortwo."

One-way carsharing with car2go up since on-street parking in Toronto
Since March of this year, Toronto members have had the ability to park on street and join the other 12 North American car2go locations which allow their members the same benefit. Since then, car2go has seen a 35 percent increase in overall car2go rentals and a 200 percent increase in rentals during the evening rush hour for those members who can now take car2go home and park it in their neighborhood.

Lower pricing for all and free registration + free drive time for new Toronto members
To give members a chance to get a feel for the new car2gos, and make the most of the final days of summer, car2go is offering a lower day rate for a limited time. Members can hop in any car2go smart car for just $10.00 an hour (regularly $14) and $60.00 per day (regularly $84.99).

Torontonians interested in taking a spin in the new car2go can use the promo code NEWSMART for free registration (regularly $35) and a $5.00 drive time credit through October 31, 2016. Members are encouraged to keep up-to-date on all the latest member events and promotions by following @car2goToronto on Twitter and connecting with car2go on Facebook.

About car2go N.A. LLC
car2go N.A., LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, offers an innovative mobility solution in rapidly growing urban areas via a carsharing network of eco-friendly smart fortwo vehicles around the world. A flexible and "on demand" mode of transportation, car2go complements existing public transportation by bridging the gaps between the "first and last mile" of a member's commute. Today, car2go's global operation is the largest, fastest-growing carsharing program in the world with more than 2,000,000 registered members and a fleet of over 14,000 vehicles in 30 locations across the globe.

The innovation and environmental sustainability of car2go have earned international acclaim, including TripAdvisor's 2015 "Travelers' Choice" award, "Best Carshare" from the Vancouver Courier, "2015 Best CarSharing Service" from Best of D.C., "2014 Best CarSharing App" from Best of D.C., recognition from the Austin Chamber of Commerce with the "Greater Austin Business Award" for its positive impact on the city's traffic, and the prestigious "2010 EPA Clean Air Excellence Award" from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Further information on car2go is available at car2go.com and car2go.com/NA/en/press/.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161004/415191

SOURCE car2go

Blaire Kniffin, car2go N.A., LLC (Austin, Texas), 512-580-0409, [email protected], http://www.car2go.com