car2go Enters UK, Selected as Birmingham's 'Urban Mobility Provider'
Starting in fall 2012, car2go will provide its members there access to a fleet of up to 250 smart fortwo 'car2go edition' vehicles fitted with an economical petrol engine and an engine start/stop system.
Photo courtesy of Daimler AG
A 'car2go edition' smart fortwo vehicle.
Photo courtesy of Daimler AG
A 'car2go edition' smart fortwo vehicle.
car2go announced March 15 that it won a tender offer from the Birmingham City Council in the United Kingdom to set up an urban mobility scheme. Birmingham will be the first UK home of car2go, in which more than 70,000 people are already using the car-sharing service in Continental Europe, the United States and Canada.
“We are proud to be chosen to build up Birmingham’s first fully-flexible car-sharing service,” said Robert Henrich, CEO of car2go. “Winning this important bid shows that car2go is ready to quickly expand its service in forward-thinking cities which require an innovative mobility solution complementing their existing transportation infrastructure.”
In February 2012, car2go accepted an invitation to bid for the provision of an urban mobility scheme in Birmingham. Starting in fall 2012, car2go will provide its members there access to a fleet of up to 250 smart fortwo "car2go edition" vehicles fitted with an economical petrol engine with an engine start/stop system. The cars are specially developed for car-sharing and can be rented spontaneously inside an operating area of around 30 sq. miles, which covers the city center and several densely populated suburbs.
There is no limit on when customers can start their reservation or for how long. There is also no mandatory return location, in which the vehicle can be parked at any legal public parking space. car2go is paying a monthly fee to the city which covers on-street parking and selected off-street spots operated by the city.
“Birmingham is committed to developing a wide range of green and public transport initiatives to reduce both traffic congestion and carbon emissions within the city, and then country at large,” said Councillor Timothy Huxtable, cabinet member for Transport, Environment and Regeneration. “Through these projects we are keen to explore the potential that short-term car share schemes may have, alongside improvements to public transport and walking/cycling links, in removing the traditional reliance on bringing cars into the city center every day.”
More Rental Operations
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
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 →