Vancouver car-sharing market up for grabs as Car2Go on its way out
Posted January 7, 2020 11:37 am.
Last Updated January 7, 2020 3:00 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — As Share Now, formerly known as Car2Go, readies to leave Vancouver next month, the City of Vancouver says car-sharing is still a very viable service.
Vancouver’s Director of Transportation Lon LaClaire says operators seem willing to step up and accommodate the demand.
“So we would anticipate as Car2Go phases out over the next two months, that we would see Evo working to pick up that extra demand, and accommodate it on their system,” he says.
LaClaire says Evo’s expansion has been much more aggressive than it anticipated.
He adds he believes Car2Go was lumped into a North American decision to leave, noting it’s been very successful in the city.
As for the designated Share Now parking spots, LaClaire says they will most likely be replaced.
“We’ll probably see those disappear and the number of spaces towards Evo and other car-share companies would be increasing,” he says.
The city has no plans of its own to fill the gap that might be left behind when Share Now ceases its operations.
Meantime, Evo says it is in Vancouver to stay, and plans are in the works to meet demand.
Tai Silvey, Vice-President of Evo Car Share explains, “we’ve been in market for five years and since we launched in 2015, we’ve continued to launch and expand our business. So, as Share Now exits, certainly we want to help keep people mobile. Car sharing’s an expensive business, so we need to work with our partners, including the City of Vancouver, in order to do so. But, we have full intention of growing our business to help fill some of the void, some of the demand.”
Silvey says there is nothing concrete he can share at this point.
He notes the rapid growth of car sharing in general in Vancouver over the last few years.
“As there’s been a bit of a contraction with the exit of Share Now, Vancouver’s still a very strong market for us, and we see a lot of opportunity in this market to help people move around. So, I think that car sharing will continue to grow in the region.”
Silvey hopes in the coming weeks, there will be more information on plans moving forward.
