Mercedes Forum
12-30-2010, 12:13 AM
Filed under: Etc. (http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/), Europe (http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/), BMW (http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/), Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/car2go-630.jpg (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101224/CARNEWS/101229938)
If you think that joining in on the car-sharing party means that you'll be stuck behind the wheel of a low-buck auto, prepare to be amazed. According to AutoWeek, both BMW (http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw) and Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz) are diving into the car-sharing world with programs designed to allow users to experience a slice of luxury without having to foot the hassles associated with car ownership. BMW on Demand will provide drivers with a 1 Series (http://www.autoblog.com/model/1+series) for as little as €16 per hour in Europe (around $21 USD/hr). Those wanting a little more room can opt for a 5 Series (http://www.autoblog.com/model/5+series) for the low price of €23/hr ($30/hr), including servicing and cleaning.
Daimler (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/daimler), meanwhile, is working on a similar program in both Austin, Texas and Ulm, Germany, though that program will serve up products from the company's Smart (http://www.autoblog.com/make/smart) line. Users can reserve trim levels and colors on line or by phone, use the vehicle for as long as they like and drop it off in convenient car-sharing parking spaces. The time behind the wheel is automatically calculated and the user's bank account automatically debited.
Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are delving into car-sharing to confront a growing lack of interest in ownership from younger generations and increased traffic in urban settings, even though some research has shown that the use of a single shared vehicle can contribute to the loss of as many as nine to 15 personal cars.
[Source: AutoWeek (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101224/CARNEWS/101229938)]Report: BMW, Mercedes experiment with upscale car-sharing (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19779532/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/#comments)
Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/car2go-630.jpg (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101224/CARNEWS/101229938)
If you think that joining in on the car-sharing party means that you'll be stuck behind the wheel of a low-buck auto, prepare to be amazed. According to AutoWeek, both BMW (http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw) and Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz) are diving into the car-sharing world with programs designed to allow users to experience a slice of luxury without having to foot the hassles associated with car ownership. BMW on Demand will provide drivers with a 1 Series (http://www.autoblog.com/model/1+series) for as little as €16 per hour in Europe (around $21 USD/hr). Those wanting a little more room can opt for a 5 Series (http://www.autoblog.com/model/5+series) for the low price of €23/hr ($30/hr), including servicing and cleaning.
Daimler (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/daimler), meanwhile, is working on a similar program in both Austin, Texas and Ulm, Germany, though that program will serve up products from the company's Smart (http://www.autoblog.com/make/smart) line. Users can reserve trim levels and colors on line or by phone, use the vehicle for as long as they like and drop it off in convenient car-sharing parking spaces. The time behind the wheel is automatically calculated and the user's bank account automatically debited.
Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are delving into car-sharing to confront a growing lack of interest in ownership from younger generations and increased traffic in urban settings, even though some research has shown that the use of a single shared vehicle can contribute to the loss of as many as nine to 15 personal cars.
[Source: AutoWeek (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101224/CARNEWS/101229938)]Report: BMW, Mercedes experiment with upscale car-sharing (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19779532/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/#comments)
Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/)