Press Release Details

TORONTO, April 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zipcar, the world's leading car sharing network, and Metrolinx, Ontario's regional transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), are expanding their partnership by adding Zipcars to seven additional GO Transit stations to grow the number of seamless transportation options available to GTHA residents, businesses and visitors.

An image accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/29209/file/33030.pdf

Zipcar and Metrolinx launched their partnership in 2014 by placing Zipcars at six GO stations. With the additional locations and vehicles, a total of 13 GO Transit stations will now have access to Zipcar's convenient and affordable "wheels when you want them." The new locations provide more integrated transit options to residents, businesses and visitors in the region and allow Zipcar members to combine GO Transit and Zipcar trips.

"We are pleased to announce the expansion of our successful partnership with Zipcar to provide a cost-effective and convenient travel option for transit riders whose destinations are not easily reached by other means from the GO station," said Greg Percy, President of GO Transit. "By providing more Zipcar vehicles at GO Transit stations, we're giving our customers even more ways to take GO Transit as well as increased access to GTHA communities."

Zipcar vehicles are now available at the following GO stations:

• Bramalea
• Brampton
• Burlington
• Cooksville
• Guelph
• Oakville
• Pickering

The seven new locations join the six GO Train stations that partnered with Zipcar in early 2014:

• Eglinton
• Long Branch
• Mimico
• Port Credit
• Richmond Hill
• Scarborough

In addition to car sharing, Metrolinx ensures GO Transit riders have options to go to and from stations by synchronizing local transit connections and providing designated carpool parking, electric vehicle charging and bike facilities.

There are currently more than 500 Zipcars at more than 200 locations throughout Toronto, including a wide variety of makes and models, from compact cars to minivans, from luxury vehicles to pickups and from hybrids to cargo vans, making it easy to select the right vehicle for each trip.

Zipcar members can reserve the vehicles, which are parked in designated parking spots, on Zipcar's mobile app, online or over the phone. The newly added Zipcar vehicles are available for reservation 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

Zipcar vehicles, including those located at GO Transit Stations, are proven to reduce personal vehicle ownership, congestion and alleviate parking challenges in cities. Each Zipcar eliminates the need for 15 personally owned vehicles, according to leading car sharing expert Susan Shaheen of University of California, Berkeley. Zipcar surveyed its Toronto members to learn if they were replacing a personally owned vehicle with a Zipcar membership. Survey results conclude:

• Nearly 50 percent of Zipcar Toronto members report getting rid of at least one car after joining Zipcar
• Over 80 percent of Zipcar Toronto members do not own a car
• Over 60 percent of Zipcar Toronto members say they have postponed buying a car because of Zipcar

"Zipcar is thrilled to continue expanding at GO Transit stations across the GTHA," said Zipcar General Manager Nicola McLeod. "The growth of this partnership allows for more GTHA residents and businesses to ditch their personally owned car keys in favor of taking public transit and Zipcar."

Zipcar gives its members on-demand access to a variety of cars in hundreds of cities and college and university campuses worldwide as well as at major airports throughout North America. With Zipcars available 24/7 for reservation via Zipcar's mobile app, through www.zipcar.com, or over the phone, Zipcar is a smart transportation option for those who only need a car by the hour or by the day. Each reservation includes gas, insurance and 200km of driving per day.

More information, including how to become a Zipcar member, is available via the web at http://www.zipcar.ca/gotransit, on Twitter and on Facebook.

About Zipcar

Zipcar, the world's leading car sharing network, has operations in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria and France. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for smart, simple and convenient solutions to their urban and campus transportation needs. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:CAR), a leading global provider of vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

About Metrolinx

Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The goal of Metrolinx's regional transportation plan is to provide residents and businesses in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with fast, convenient and integrated transit. Working through its divisions - GO Transit, PRESTO, and Union Pearson Express - Metrolinx is transforming the way the region moves.

CONTACT: Press Contacts:

         Lindsay Wester

         Zipcar - Public Relations

         617.336.4749

         lwester@zipcar.com

         

         Alex Burke

         Metrolinx - Media Relations

         416.202.5726

         Alex.Burke@metrolinx.com