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Two More Car-Sharing Operations Launch In D.C.

By: WAMU Staff // March 26, 2012
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Zipcar has been the only car-sharing outfit in D.C. since it purchased competitor Flexcar in 2007; now, two new companies are trying to break into the market. 
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Zipcar has been the only car-sharing outfit in D.C. since it purchased competitor Flexcar in 2007; now, two new companies are trying to break into the market. 

Two new car-sharing companies are open for business in Washington in competition with Zipcar.

Car2go launched in D.C. over the weekend with a fleet of 200 Smart cars, according to the Washington Post. Unlike Zipcar, Car2go allows users to leave cars at any metered parking spot, and it charges by the minute. Rental car company Hertz is also launching a car-sharing service in D.C. called On Demand. Hertz will have 25 cars in its fleet.

Nicolas Cole, head of Car2go North America, says the District "makes a lot of sense" for the company's brand of car-sharing because it's densely populated and parking is scarce.

Zipcar is still the largest car-sharing company in D.C. with approximately 800 cars in the area. It has been the only service of its kind in the area since it purchased Flexcar in 2007. 

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