POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., May, 5, 2016 – Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, today announced a new partnership with the Cities of Poughkeepsie and Beacon to bring its “wheels when you want them” membership service to area residents, businesses and visitors.  

A total of five Zipcars, available for reservation by the hour or by the day, are now parked in easily accessible locations throughout Hudson Valley in popular areas such as along the Hudson River near the train station and in downtown at Civic Center Plaza in Poughkeepsie, as well as near popular restaurants and shops on Henry St. and by City Hall at One Municipal Plaza in Beacon.  The vehicles are parked in designated spots for convenient pick-up and drop-off and can be reserved in seconds on Zipcar’s mobile app, online or over the phone.

“Zipcar is thrilled to be expanding our ‘wheels when you want them’ service to Hudson Valley,” said Zipcar New York General Manager Erica Bacon. “Area residents now have all the benefits of car ownership without the cost and hassles, while helping the area reduce congestion and alleviate parking demand.”

The Zipcar Hudson Valley fleet features a variety of makes and models, including a Subaru Crosstrek named “Cammy,” great for a weekend getaway, a Honda Civic dubbed “Basurto” to zip around town or a Nissan Sentra called “Shalamar” for a business meeting. Each reservation includes gas, insurance and 180 miles of driving per day, making it a great option for those looking for ways to save money on the high cost of car ownership.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Zipcar to the City of Beacon,” said Mayor Randy Casale.  “As Mayor, one of my top priorities is to help provide safe, flexible forms of transportation for our residents and visitors.  Zipcar is a cost effective and environmentally responsible alternative to car ownership.”

Zipcar’s launch in Hudson Valley builds on successful programs at Vassar College, Marist College, the Culinary Institute of America and SUNY New Paltz. With a large number of Hudson Valley residents already using Zipcar in other locations, the company was eager to provide members with convenient access to wheels where they live, work and play.  Zipcar members can reserve and drive vehicles throughout New York or in any one of the hundreds of cities and towns around the world where Zipcar operates as well as at over 60 airports.

Local businesses in Hudson Valley can benefit from Zipcar’s presence through the Zipcar for Business (Z4B) program that offers discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. The Z4B program helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing employees with access to Zipcar for business needs and other uses.

Prospective members can join the service instantly on Zipcar’s mobile app. For more information on Zipcar in Hudson Valley please visit: www.zipcar.com/hudsonvalley

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world’s leading car sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the hour or day, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in over 500 cities and towns across Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car sharing options available. 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.

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Media Contact:

Lindsay Wester

Public Relations Manager, Zipcar

[email protected]

617.336.4749