Smart Car2Go Program Rolls Out in Austin
Of all places in US to launch an experimental car-sharing program, most analysts would probably put any city in truck-month loving Texas somewhere near the bottom of the list. Thwarting intuition, that's somehow the very first place that Diamler is going to test their Car2Go mobility program. The horde of Smart ForTwos for rent will descend upon the Lone Star State's capital city this fall.Diamler's first Smart sharing program was launched last October in Ulm, Germany, where there are now 200 ForTwos available for rent by the minute, hour, or day. Though they haven't announced any pricing for the state-side pilot program, the Fortwos in Ulm rent for € .19/minute, €9.90/hour, and €49/day -- pretty reasonable for those who only need a car every now and then.
According to ABG, the Austin pilot program will help Diamler work out the kinks when it comes to language, laws, and general functionality. I guess that makes sense. Here's Austin mayor Will Wynn's take on the matter:
"We very much look forward to becoming the first international partner of car2go. Our city is known for its strong sense of environmental responsibility. Car2go fits this wonderfully because we can then offer the residents of Austin an intelligent mobility concept with a high positive environmental factor. The project has our full support."The bonus incentive to launching a project like this in Austin is that, rather than in San Francisco or New York, if it can be successful in a place with a car culture as strong as Texas, it can work anywhere.
[via Wired]
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