Alternative Transportation Saves New York Businesses Money and Time

- Zipcar Offers Free Registration to Businesses Until June 15 -

NEW YORK, May 17 -- New York-based companies spend millions of dollars each year on transportation including car service (town cars), rental cars, personal car use and taxis. Fees for a typical car service trip from Midtown Manhattan to major companies outside the City can reach $200 or more for a round trip including tip, tolls and waiting time. The cost of a traditional rental car for a day is at least $100 including gas, insurance and mileage. Using personal cars and taxis for business has also become more expensive in New York with rising gas prices and taxi fares. Fortunately there is a more cost-effective, time-efficient option -- Zipcar (www.zipcar.com), a new twist on a traditional rental car company that offers self-service, on-demand vehicles by the hour or by the day.

For as low as $8 per hour or $56 per day, businesses can have automated access to a Zipcar 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year. These rates include parking, maintenance, tolls and even gas. In addition, until June 15, 2004, a $100 registration fee including five drivers is waived for Z2B (business-to-business) members. And it's only $20 annually for each additional driver.

Accessing and using one of Zipcar's 75 vehicles that are conveniently parked throughout the New York metropolitan area is as easy as getting cash from an ATM. In minutes or up to a year in advance, members can reserve Zipcars online at www.zipcar.com or by calling 1.866.4ZIPCAR. Then, utilizing Zipcar's patent-pending technology, members have automated access to the vehicles using a Zipcard to simply unlock the door and drive away.

Zipcar started its Z2B division in New York in February 2004 and already has nearly 50 customers ranging from consulting firms (e.g., IT, advertising, design), retail companies, production houses, law firms, non-profit organizations and universities. "The response to Zipcar's Z2B program in New York has been extremely positive," said Dan Martin, regional sales director, Zipcar. "Our customers are attracted to the cost savings, but more importantly, they appreciate the convenience of Zipcar."

"Before joining Zipcar, we spent a lot of money on taxis, town cars and messenger services," said Leslie Ternes, COO of Hollywould, Inc., a shoe retailer that has two stores in Manhattan and also supplies shoes to high-end stores, such as Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales. "Now we can conveniently zip around Manhattan to deliver shoes to our customers. With Zipcar, it's great to be able to pick up and go whenever we need to."

About Zipcar

Launched in 1999 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Zipcar is the new twist on traditional rental car companies because it offers self-service, on-demand vehicles by the hour or by the day. The vehicles are conveniently parked throughout the New York metropolitan area as well as other major cities, such as Boston and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.zipcar.com.