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Abrams Consulting and Transportation Solutions Join Forces

9 November 1999

Abrams Consulting and Transportation Solutions Join Forces to Create Specialized Car-sharing Consultancy

    PURCHASE, N.Y.--Nov. 8, 1999--Neil Abrams, President of ABRAMS CONSULTING GROUP, INC. (ACG), a leading specialized consultancy to car rental and allied travel industries and Neil Peterson, President of TRANSPORTATIONS SOLUTIONS (TS), a highly recognized consultancy advising public transit systems, have formed a joint venture to provide consulting, market research and management services to car rental companies, public transportation agencies, and allied businesses worldwide.
    The new venture, AbramsPetersonAdvisors, is a business unit of both ACG and TS, and is considered the first company totally dedicated to developing the new emerging transportation mode called car-sharing, a partnership of the private and public sectors to serve the local transportation needs of the traveling public while at the same time helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality and make our communities more livable.
    Car sharing is the equivalent of time-sharing automobiles where the same vehicle could be utilized by different member drivers, at various times during the day. It can be particularly useful for riders of public transportation who when they get off the train or bus need a car to get to their final destination.
    The value of car sharing, which has been in practice in various municipalities in Europe for more than ten years, but virtually embryonic in the U.S., includes, 1) less congestion on our roads and highways and reduced air pollution; 2) for public transportation agencies it can increase ridership and reduce demand on already overcrowded parking lots in or around train and bus stations; 3) it creates a new distribution channel and revenue opportunities for car rental companies; 4) more mobility for the traveling public and businesses, who will have access to and a choice of vehicles when and where they need it; 5) it offers a cost effective travel alternative for commuters; 6) provides a safety net for businesses whose temporary demand for their own fleet vehicles is greater than their supply; 7) it may relieve, for some people and corporations, the financial burden of owning and/or leasing an automobile, freeing up disposable income.
    In explaining the reason for their collaboration, Abrams and Peterson comment in a joint statement, "ACG is the acknowledged leader in providing consulting and research services to the global auto rental community and associated industries. TS is the recognized authority on the challenges and opportunities facing planners and managers of public transit systems. This unique alliance, utilizing the full resources of our two firms, will provide a platform of consulting, research, and management services to the private and public sectors that is unparalleled." AbramsPeterson is poised to be the innovators of this car-sharing business model, to the benefit of the auto rental and mass transit industries and the traveling public.