Zipcar Zips into East Bay; Announces Plans to Double Car Sharing Fleet Throughout San Francisco

North America's largest car sharing service expands local presence; responds to high gas prices and rising customer demand

SAN FRANCISCO, July 11 -- Fueled by new vehicle financing and record growth and success in San Francisco and throughout the country, Zipcar, North America's largest car sharing company, today announced plans to rapidly double its Bay Area fleet within the year, expanding into new communities throughout the region while increasing service in existing neighborhoods. As part of this aggressive expansion, Zipcar also announced that it is expanding service into East Bay. Beginning today, Zipcar will place 14 Zipcars at locations throughout Berkeley and Oakland, offering local residents and businesses a convenient, cost-effective and greener alternative to car ownership.

As part of an innovative partnership with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to promote the economic and environmental benefits of car sharing for commuters' short term transportation needs, most of Zipcar's initial East Bay fleet will be located at the North Berkeley, Ashby and Rockridge BART stations. Other Zipcars are to be located throughout downtown Berkeley. These Zipcars will include several of the 20+ makes and models in the Zipcar fleet, including Toyota Prius Hybrids, MINI Coopers, Mazda 3s and BMW 325is.

Zipcar launched service in San Francisco in September of last year and has since built the area's largest car sharing fleet, as thousands of individuals and businesses have embraced Zipcar as an alternative to increasingly high transportation costs. "Our recent growth, and our expansion into East Bay and throughout new and existing neighborhoods, underscore that we have created the foremost car sharing brand and an award-winning user experience," said Dan Shifrin, Regional Vice President at Zipcar. "We look forward to continuing our phenomenal growth as more and more individuals, businesses and universities turn to Zipcar as a fun, affordable and environmentally-friendly alternative to car ownership and high gas prices."

The San Francisco fleet expansion follows the recent announcement that GE Commercial Finance Services has greenlighted $20 million in vehicle financing, supporting Zipcar's growth and enabling Zipcar to source and roll out new vehicles more quickly and cost-effectively than any company in the category. Earlier this spring, Zipcar also introduced service in Toronto, Canada, the company's first venture into markets outside the United States. Zipcar currently has the largest active membership base of any car sharing service, with more than 60,000 members and 1,500 vehicles in 11 states and provinces.

Zipcar's car sharing service provides new economic and environmental benefits to people who live and work in North America's most populated cities. By freeing a rapidly increasing number of individuals and businesses from the burdens of car ownership, Zipcar makes a positive impact on the affordability and quality of life in urban markets, by reducing demand on already insufficient parking capacity, traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions. Recent studies by Zipcar and other government transportation agencies indicate that each Zipcar takes over 20 privately-owned vehicles off the road. Zipcar members also report they save an average of $435 per month, drive less each year compared to owning a vehicle and increase usage of public transportation resources by over 47 percent.

About Zipcar

With 60,000 consumer and business drivers, Zipcar is North America's largest car sharing service. The company currently operates over 1,500 vehicles in 11 states and provinces, including metropolitan New York, Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Toronto and Washington, DC. With Zipcar's award-winning technology, accessing and using a Zipcar is as easy as getting cash from an ATM. In minutes or up to a year in advance, members can reserve Zipcars online or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Zipcar members have automated access to any Zipcar across North America using a "Zipcard" to simply unlock the door and drive away. With Zipcar, gas, parking and insurance are always included. For more information, visit http://www.zipcar.com/.