German carsharing company car2go is launching in Chicago next month, joining other carsharing services, like Getaround, Zipcar and Maven, that operate in the Windy City.
The mobile app-based service offers on-demand carsharing, giving users access to a network of 400 eco-friendly smart cars and Mercedes Benz models in Chicago. Using the app, drivers can find, reserve, take and end trips in the company’s cars. Registration for the service opened Wednesday and Chicagoans can begin renting cars on July 25, the company announced today.
car2go says it is different from other carsharing companies because it doesn't charge customers monthly or annual fees. The service also allows drivers to make one-way trips without having to pick up or return cars at fixed locations.
Drivers can end their trips and park the car in any approved space, which car2go outlines in its “home area” map. The home area includes on-street residential permit parking and designated car2go parking spaces as far north as Foster Avenue, as far west as Kimball and Homan Avenues and as far south as Cermack Road. But one glaring spot in the map where users can’t park cars includes much of Lincoln Park and Lakeview, which according to The Chicago Tribune, is because the neighborhoods' aldermen are concerned about parking.
It costs 29 cents per minute to rent a two-seater smart car and 39 cents per minute for a Mercedes model. Additionally, fuel, parking, insurance and maintenance costs are all included.
"Chicago is ideally suited for car2go," said Paul DeLong, CEO of car2go North America, in a statement. "Ultimately, our service is designed to complement public transit. Our mission in Chicago is simple: to provide a transportation option that improves the lives of Chicagoans."
car2go, which has more than 3 million members worldwide, operates in 23 other cities, including New York, Amsterdam and Vancouver. In 2017 alone, the company’s members rented vehicles 24 million times. According to the company, its free-floating model mitigates traffic congestion, reduces air pollution, and helps people spend less time and money driving.
The company says it's the first carsharing service in the U.S to support Vision Zero, a global initiative that addresses traffic safety, which Chicago city officials are currently doubling down on.
"Chicago is a global leader in transportation innovation and this new pilot program will help us stay at the forefront while supporting our commitment to providing safe and reliable ways to get around Chicago," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. "I look forward to seeing this program succeed and scale up to reach neighborhoods across Chicago."
