SMALL businesses who use car clubs for their transport now have access to the largest car club in the UK.
City Car Club has bought out rival WhizzGo. City Car Club says it’s the the UK’s largest national network of hourly rental cars.
WhizzGo’s cars will now be re-branded as City Car Club and current WhizzGo members will immediately transfer to City Car Club’s technology platform.
City Car Club buys WhizzGo
James Finlayson, the chief executive officer of City Car Club, said the corporate business base of WhizzGo was part of the attraction.
“We were keen to acquire WhizzGo’s locations in key cities in the north of England which will now enlarge our base for future expansion,” commented Finlayson. “This dovetails perfectly with our strategy of growing our network both outside, as well as inside, of London. Our enlarged network will be able to deliver new member benefits and accelerated growth to the burgeoning car-sharing industry.”
Car clubs offer a cost effective and greener alternative to car ownership. Members can hire cars for as little as £3.96 per hour and each booking comes with 50 miles free petrol per day. City Car Club membership costs £50 per year for residential members and £30 for business members.
Members can book cars at a moment’s notice on the internet, telephone or even at the car itself. Cars are parked in designated parking bays. Once a booking is made, members gain access with a smart enabled, personal membership card (totally keyless access). Once in the car, members enter their PIN into the on-board computer. Journeys are itemised and sent out on a monthly statement.
The number of new car club members joining has shot up during the recession as motorists opt to rent rather than buy says City Car Club, reporting an 80% expansion in its membership base in 2008.
City Car Club has cars in the following locations: London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, York, Edinburgh, Brighton, Bristol, Bath, Huddersfield, Norwich, Birmingham, and Southampton.
