Ford, Dealers Launch Car Sharing Service In Germany
COLOGNE, Germany -- Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) Monday launched Ford2Go, a car sharing service in Germany.
Ford2Go, the first automotive manufacturer-backed, nationwide car sharing program in Europe to incorporate dealerships, was formed through a partnership among Ford of Germany, the German Ford dealers association FHD GmbH, and DB Rent GmbH – the company behind Flinkster car sharing.
The program calls for participating Ford dealers across Germany to offer cars and service to customers in their towns, allowing easy access to shared cars and offering the chance for potential customers to experience Ford vehicles.
Car sharing was one of the various elements highlighted by Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford during a keynote address on the future of mobility at the February 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
More than half of Europeans would consider car sharing, either through a formal program or through private arrangements, a Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll shows. Drivers increasingly see car sharing programs as a viable option, particularly in dense urban areas where parking can be problematic, and public transit can meet many but not all transportation needs.
The Futures Company, a consulting firm, conducted the survey of 6,028 people in July and August 2012 to better understand the opinions and attitudes of Europeans across a range of mobility issues, from car sharing to green driving to the future of the internal combustion engine.
Of the 56 percent surveyed who said they would consider car sharing, 27 percent would be most attracted by reduced travel costs, 26 percent by convenience of location and operating hours, 23 percent by a straightforward booking system and 22 percent by a reduced impact on the environment.
DB Rent has developed a Web-based booking system along with iOS and Android smartphone apps for private and commercial customers participating in the Ford car sharing program.
Ford2Go will be rolled out throughout the coming year. Ford's German trade network includes 527 Ford dealers, 257 affiliated branches and 1,083 Ford-authorized repair shops – any and all of which would be able to take part in the program.
More at www.ford.com.
