BOSTON - Mint Cars On-Demand, Boston's newest car sharing company which launched in the area earlier this year, announced it is acquiring some of the assets of Somerville-based rival iCar, which is discontinuing its service. The addition will add to Mint's current membership and give Boston-area residents and businesses more options for car sharing/cars on demand.

The move comes on the heels of Mint's recent triple-digit member growth as it positions itself as a more community-focused, less expensive alternative to both private car ownership and existing car sharing options.

"iCar shared our mission of focusing on members and the communities we serve by providing a clean, reliable transportation alternative," Mint CEO Richard Ull said, "and we're pleased to now be able to offer iCar members a wider selection of vehicles and locations at more accessible rates ."

The change will also give iCar members more options for vehicles in that once they transition to a Mint membership, they will have access to Mint's locations in Boston, Brookline and Cambridge as well as in the metro New York City market.

iCar member Maria Grise of Somerville said she is excited about becoming part of Mint.

"I've made car sharing a pretty big part of how I get around," she said, "and now with more choices, living without my own car should be that much easier."

In the more than 1,000 cities that have programs, car sharing/cars on-demand minimizes the hassle and expense of car ownership for its members. Estimates show that between parking, insurance and gas costs, car ownership can exceed $12,000 per year. Additionally, by joining Mint, members reduce their Carbon Footprint and ease congestion by taking privately-owned vehicles cars off the road.