BMW, Sixt Officially Launch DriveNow in London
DriveNow, the car-sharing initiative by the BMW Group and Sixt SE, has launched in London with a fleet of 210 vehicles. The all-electric BMW i3 will be introduced to the London fleet in 2015.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.
BMW Group and Sixt SE have launched its car-sharing program DriveNow in London. Currently, 210 BMW 1 Series and MINI Countryman models are available for rental in 25 square miles, comprising the boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney.
In spring 2015, DriveNow plans to add 30 all-electric BMW i3 vehicles, expanding London’s fleet total to 300 vehicles by the end of 2015, says the company.
“DriveNow is already an international success, with more than 360,000 regular customers in Europe and America, and we are delighted now to launch it in London, Europe’s largest city,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the board of management of BMW AG. “DriveNow gives Londoners instant access to highly desirable cars, perfect for the city, in an innovative and entirely flexible way. This program is part of BMW Group’s strategic response to the growth in urban living and shared ownership. Our aim is to expand it into about 15 more cities in Europe and about 10 in North America in the future.”
Following a one-time registration fee around $45, rates start at $0.45 per minute. Additionally, users can purchase saver packages, which allow customers to buy blocks of minutes for $0.50. All costs such as fuel, taxes, insurance and parking are included in the rates.
Currently, DriveNow is available in five cities in Germany (Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne and Hamburg), Vienna and San Francisco.
More Rental Operations

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
