CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, Inc., the world's leading car sharing network, with the support of Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, today announced the expansion of Zipcar's car sharing network to the City of Minneapolis. With this launch, Minneapolis becomes Zipcar's 21st major metropolitan market.

The new Zipcar program will provide the Minneapolis community with access to the world's leading car sharing network with 40 vehicles located in convenient locations throughout the City, including Dinkytown, Downtown, Loring Park, Northeast, North Loop and Seven Corners. Zipcar has offered car sharing on the campus of University of Minnesota since 2005, where it has been extremely well-received by students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the local community. Zipcar plans to continue to expand operations throughout additional areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul this year, including working with City of Minneapolis officials to establish on-street parking spots.

"I'm very excited to welcome Zipcar to Minneapolis; their expansion in our city is great news for people who want to spend their money on things other than owning a car," said Mayor Rybak.

In addition to local residents, students and visitors, the Zipcar program in Minneapolis is available to employees of local businesses through the "Zipcar for Business" program that offers discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. This program helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing their employees with access to Zipcars for business needs and other uses.

A Different Car For Every Occasion

Zipcar currently offers a mix of vehicle types in Minneapolis, including SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape, environmentally-friendly hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, hatchbacks like the Ford Focus and Mazda 3 and luxury vehicles like the Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz C300.

Zipcars all have their own individual names, many of which are representative of the cities they hail from. In Minneapolis, Zipcar members can reserve cars like Ford Focus "Superior", Mazda 3 "Mall", Ford Escape "Goldy", or even Audi A3 "Justin", named after the Twin's first baseman Justin Morneau or Audi A3 "Joe", named after Twin's catcher Joe Mauer.

As with the additional 20 major markets in which Zipcar operates, members who join Zipcar help reduce downtown parking demand, traffic congestion and the city's carbon footprint overall, and help to foster a more walkable and bikable community.

"With the flexibility, reliability and convenience that Zipcar membership offers, along with our wide variety of fun and functional vehicle choices, Minneapolis residents now have more options to meet their transportation needs, no matter what kind of trip they are taking," said Zipcar President Mark Norman. "We know residents of Minneapolis have made the city one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. and we believe the new Zipcar program aligns nicely with the city's alternative transportation goals."

Zipcar Recommended Summer Adventures

As Zipcar is expanding in the Minneapolis just in time for summer, below are a few ideas for how Zipsters can make use of their Zipcar membership while enjoying all that the local area has to offer:

Lake Minnetonka: Load up the bikes, fishing poles or the golf clubs, and head to Lake Minnetonka in a Zipcar Ford Escape SUV. It offers plenty of room for all your gear, no matter which leisure activities you choose. Zipcar to reserve: Ford Escape SUV "Goldy".

Mall of America: It goes without saying, but you can shop 'til you drop at the Mall of America, and have room to stash all of your bags in a Mazda 3 hatchback. Zipcar to reserve: Mazda 3 "Mall" .

Minneapolis Institute of Arts: Take your date out for a night of culture in style in a Zipcar Mercedes- Benz C300. Admission is free, so you can splurge on a set of fancy wheels! Zipcar to reserve: Mercedes-Benz C300 "Cumoletti".

Zipcar hourly and daily rates include gas, reserved parking spots, insurance and up to 180 miles of driving per day. Cars can be reserved for as short as an hour or for multiple days. Zipcar rates on vehicles in downtown Minneapolis start from $8.75 per hour and $72 per day (24 hours). For more information on joining Zipcar, visit www.zipcar.com.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car sharing network with operations in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and Austria. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for smart, simple and convenient solutions to their urban and campus transportation needs. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR), a global leader in car sharing and vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

SOURCE Zipcar, Inc.

For further information: Colleen McCormick, 617-336-4342, [email protected]