Skip to main content

Berg Insight: free floating car sharing served 5.6m members 2017

Free floating car sharing services utilised 40,000 vehicles and served 5.6 million members in 2017, according to a report released by Swedish internet of things firm Berg Insight. The study also forecasted that membership of the service will reach 14.3 million using around 102,000 vehicles by the end of 2022. This service allows members to pick up and drop-off cars anywhere within a designated area where parking is allowed. Users can access available cars without prior booking or be required to schedule
April 20, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Free floating car sharing services utilised 40,000 vehicles and served 5.6 million members in 2017, according to a report released by Swedish internet of things firm 3849 Berg Insight. The study also forecasted that membership of the service will reach 14.3 million using around 102,000 vehicles by the end of 2022.


This service allows members to pick up and drop-off cars anywhere within a designated area where parking is allowed. Users can access available cars without prior booking or be required to schedule a return time.

The operational model presents challenges for carsharing operators such as car fleet rebalancing across operating areas to ensure availability, higher capital investments in car fleets as well as parking management.

Berg Insight also revealed that most carsharing organisations use station-based networks with roundtrip rental which requires users to return a vehicle to the same station where it was accessed.

Martin Svegander internet of things analyst at Berg Insight, said: “Free floating carsharing is now available in about 20 countries and roughly 55 cities worldwide. Europe and North America so far represent the vast majority of free floating carsharing members worldwide. In Europe, free floating services accounted for more than 65 percent of the carsharing membership at year-end 2017."

“Examples of additional markets that have introduced free floating carsharing services include Russia, China, New Zealand and Brazil. Besides free floating carsharing schemes backed by the major carmakers BMW DriveNow and Daimler Car2go, some specialist CarSharing Organisations (CSOs) in Europe and North America have also started to offer this operational model. Examples of CSOs that offer free floating services include Enjoy in Italy, GreenMobility in Denmark and Evo Car Share in Canada. Recently, BMW and Daimler announced the merger of their mobility service businesses that is anticipated to create a leading venture that includes free floating carsharing services and other shared mobility services”, Svegander added.

The report brochure can be downloaded %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external here false http://www.berginsight.com/ReportPDF/ProductSheet/bi-vending3-ps.pdf false false%>.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Call for papers for 17th IRF world meeting and exhibition
    March 28, 2013
    The Technical and Scientific Committee of the 17th IRF world meeting and exhibition is inviting surface transportation experts and researchers from all over the world to submit paper abstracts for evaluation. Abstracts should reflect original research or innovation in technical, institutional, economic, business and policy issues that are relevant, recent and significant. This global event, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 9-13, 2013, will provide a unique forum for sharing the latest industr
  • USDOT sponsors new connected vehicle webinars
    January 25, 2016
    The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is sponsoring three webinars to assist the Connected Vehicle Pilot sites, early installers and other interested stakeholders, as part of the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Technical Assistance Webinar series, which began last month. The Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program seeks to combine connected vehicle and mobile device technologies in innovative and cost-effective ways. Ultimately, this program will improve traveller mobility and syste
  • SMMT and Innovate UK to deliver keynote addresses at Cenex-LCV2017
    July 28, 2017
    UK Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies, Cenex, organiser of the 10th annual Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) event, has announced Konstanze Scharring, policy director of the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Graham Hoare, chair of the Technology Group of the Automotive Council and Ford Motor Company’s Director of Global Vehicle Evaluation and Verification, will be among the keynote speakers. LCV2017 is taking place 6–7 September 2017 at Millbrook in Bedfordshire, wher
  • OCTA launch bus app and change routes to increase ridership
    February 16, 2018
    Orange County Transportation Authority's (OCTA's) mobile ticketing solution is now available on its bus fleet systemwide to help make boarding easier. It has also made a series of changes to existing routes with the intention of providing a more efficient service. Riders can now purchase fares via the OC Buss app on their smartphone or other mobile devices, enabling them to call up for a Quick Response code and scan it on the onboard reader. The application is available for iPhone and Android devices.