Car-sharing service Communauto FLEX has officially launched in Toronto, Ont., under the city’s new pilot program.
The service, now in phase one, will operate in the downtown core and have 200 cars available to service 50 square kilometres. Phase two will see the number of cars rise to 500, and the area being covered widened to 100 square kilometres.
“Over 1,000 Torontonians pre-registered for Communauto FLEX in the few days after announcing our intention to launch in Toronto, which is a signal to us that city residents are looking for a new transportation solution,” said Benoit Robert, Communauto president. Their mission, he adds, is to provide increased mobility for everyone, with fewer cars on the road.
Car-sharing continues to prove popular among city residents who often perceive the service to be a hassle-free and affordable option to vehicle ownership. According to Mike Layton, City Councillor, Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina, more than 200,000 residents use car-sharing services in Toronto.
“Research has shown that car-share services can reduce car ownership, which potentially leads to reduced parking pressure on neighbourhood streets,” said Robert. “I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact Communauto FLEX will have under the city’s new pilot project.”
Several OEMs have already launched car-sharing services to help meet growing consumer demands. This includes car2go from Mercedes-Benz (which uses smart vehicles), and Maven from General Motors, among others.
The popularity of these new services and ownership models is something that many Canadian car dealers are following closely, to determine how it might impact their businesses and to determine where they might play a role.
