Zipcar
"Wheels When You Want Them"
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Car rental |
| Founded | January 2000 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Founder | Antje Danielson Robin Chase |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
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Area served
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Urban areas and college campuses throughout Austria, Canada, France, Spain, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States |
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Key people
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Tracey Zhen (President) |
| Services | Car sharing |
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Number of employees
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over 500 |
| Parent | Avis Budget Group |
| Website | zipcar.com |
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Footnotes / references |
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Zipcar is an American car-sharing company and a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group. Zipcar provides automobile reservations to its members, billable by the hour or day; members pay a monthly or annual membership fee in addition to car reservations charges. Zipcar was founded in 2000 by Antje Danielson and Robin Chase.
On March 14, 2013, Avis Budget Group purchased Zipcar for approximately US$500 million in cash; Zipcar operates as a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group. Scott Griffith, who had run the company for the previous 10 years, resigned the day after the acquisition closed and passed the reins to a new company president, Mark Norman. In early 2014, Kaye Ceille took over as Zipcar's North American President. In the summer of 2016, Kaye Ceille became a managing director of Avis Budget Group International.
As of September 2016, Zipcar has announced that they have 1 million members across the 500 cities and 9 countries they serve, and offers nearly 10,000 vehicles throughout the United States, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, making Zipcar one of the world's leading car rental networks.
Members can reserve vehicles with Zipcar's mobile app, online, or by phone at any time, either immediately or up to a year in advance. Zipcar members have automated access to Zipcars using an access card which works with the car's technology to unlock the door; the keys are already located inside. Alternatively, members can use Zipcar's Android or iPhone app to locate a Zipcar by honking its horn as well as to unlock the doors. Zipcar charges a one-time application fee, an annual fee, and a reservation charge. Fuel, parking, insurance, and maintenance are included in the price.
In the third quarter of 2007, Zipcar merged with Seattle-based rival Flexcar to create a nationwide car rental company. The company's IPO was in April 2011. Zipcar traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "ZIP" until it was acquired by Avis in 2013.
Zipcar was co-founded by Antje Danielson and Robin Chase based on existing German and Swiss companies in January 2000. In June 2000, the first Zipcars hit the road around Boston, Massachusetts. In January 2001, Antje was fired from Zipcar after Robin Chase petitioned Zipcar’s board for the ability to make hiring and firing decisions without consulting them. In September 2001, the Washington, D.C. office opened, with the branch in New York City following in February 2002. In February 2003, after difficulties in securing additional rounds of funding, the Zipcar board replaced Robin Chase as CEO with Scott Griffith. In July 2005, Zipcar secured $10 million in funding led by Benchmark Capital. In August 2005, San Francisco office opened. In May 2006, the Toronto office opened. In May 2006, General Electric's Commercial Finance Fleet Services (: GE) gave Zipcar $20 million in lease line financing. In September 2006, Toronto market was named fastest growing new market in company history. In November 2006, London office opened. In April 2007, Vancouver office opened. In October 2007, Zipcar and Flexcar executives announced a merger of the two companies, with the Zipcar brand and headquarters replacing that of Flexcar.
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Wikipedia