car2go N.A. LLC said it will publicly launch in May its car-sharing program in Austin and that it will extend its successful pilot partnership with the City of Austin for an additional six months.

"Partnering with the City of Austin and our other beta user groups has been a tremendous success," said Nicholas Cole, president and CEO of car2go N.A. LLC. "We have been able to use the pilot program to gather practical experience in order to ensure that car2go is a mobility solution that will exceed our customers' expectations. We look forward to opening car2go to all Austin residents and providing everyone a progressive solution to getting around this great city."

car2go's public launch event will take place on May 21, 2010 in Republic Square Park at Guadalupe and 5th Street. The event will be free and feature many activities for Austin families and members of the community.

Austinites will have the opportunity to register for a car2go membership at the event, but can also pre-register online beginning April 21 and pick up their membership cards onsite at the event.

The public unveiling of car2go follows a very successful pilot program with the City of Austin starting in November 2009. Under the agreement, all car2go members are allowed to use on-street parking in downtown Austin. For the provided parking, car2go is paying a usage fee to the City of Austin in the form of driving minutes for their employees' business trips. car2go and the City of Austin will extend their partnership until November 2010.