car2go Joins With D.C., Arlington Officials To Announce Cross-Jurisdictional Access

WASHINGTON and ARLINGTON, Va., May, 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- car2go, the largest carsharing service in North America, today joined with officials from Arlington County and Washington, D.C. to announce an important step forward to help get millions of area commuters and the region's 53,000-plus car2go members moving more efficiently. Effective May 26, 2016^th, car2go members will be able to start trips in Arlington and legally end them in Washington, D.C. and vice versa.

"car2go's mission is to deliver instant, flexible and affordable mobility for people on their own terms," said Paul DeLong, president and CEO of car2go North America. "Recent surveys make it very clear that the single most important issue on the minds of D.C. area residents is transportation. By working collaboratively with policymakers, innovative mobility companies like ours are helping to bridge the gap by providing more great transportation options to the millions of people who live, work and play here. car2go's one-way carsharing model is a proven, convenient, and affordable transportation solution that has a significant and beneficial impact in reducing traffic congestion. This new development improves quality of life by enabling more people to affordably go where they want, when they want."

"Our job at the District Department of Transportation is to create safe and reliable transportation options for residents and visitors of the District of Columbia," said Leif Dormsjo, DDOT Director. "car2go offers an innovative, sustainable transportation option, and we are proud to partner with our colleagues in Arlington County to make travel easier and more flexible within the DC region."

Prior to cross-jurisdictional access, car2go members were required to start and end their trips in the same jurisdiction. Today's announcement clears the way for area residents, commuters and tourists alike to travel freely between the District and Arlington County using car2go's one-way carsharing fleet of 800 cars. Any car2go member in North America can hop in and drive a car2go in the D.C. area, or in the other 12 North American cities car2go operates in.

"Partnering with Washington, D.C. is a logical next step for Arlington's year-long demonstration study with car2go," said Arlington County Director of Transportation Dennis Leach. "Our residents, workers and visitors will benefit from a seamless carsharing network that allows them to cross into the District, providing another transportation option for their daily trips."

car2go offering free membership, free drive time

Right now, car2go has waived its traditional $35 membership fee and is also providing new members with 15 minutes of free drive time to experience instant mobility on their terms. With various Metro stations being shut down beginning next month, now is an ideal time for D.C. area residents to become car2go members at no cost. Simply visit https://hopinanddrive.car2go.com to join now.

One-way carsharing enables car2go members to begin and end trips in any legal on-street parking spot in a designated Home Area, so that members don't have to return their car2go to where they started their trip, or to another inconvenient place. car2go's flexible one-way model gives members the convenience and flexibility of a personal vehicle without the costs and responsibilities of car ownership. car2go North America has more than 660,000 members in 13 cities including: New York; San Diego; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Austin; Denver; Columbus; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Arlington-Washington, D.C.; Vancouver; Toronto; Calgary; and Montreal.

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 1,200,000 registered members and a fleet of over 14,500 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.

SOURCE car2go

CONTACT: Mike Silverman, car2go N.A., LLC (Austin, Texas), 512-580-0415, michael.silverman@daimler.com