BOSTON, July 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, today announced the launch of new features that enable prospective members to sign-up, join and drive a vehicle in matter of minutes directly through the Zipcar mobile app. New members who join Zipcar through the mobile app will be verified by matching their valid driver’s license with facial recognition technology or “selfie software.” A near-instant membership approval process will enable the member to unlock a vehicle in minutes using only their smartphone.
“At Zipcar, we know that consumers decide to join our service for a variety of reasons. Often it is thoroughly planned, but other times members want access instantly when they hit an unexpected need - like having to buy large furniture without a car or to get somewhere that transit doesn’t reach,” said Zipcar Vice President of Marketing Andrew Daley. “The ability to join and drive right through one's phone in a matter of minutes furthers our goal of providing members with access to simple and convenient mobility.”
Up until this point, Zipcar has exclusively utilized RFID-enabled Zipcards for members to access a reserved vehicle. Members who join through the app will now be able use their mobile device to unlock and lock a Zipcar, eliminating the need to wait for a Zipcard to arrive in the mail or pick it up at a local Zipcar office. The Company will continue to support Zipcards for the foreseeable future.
New members who join through Zipcar’s mobile app will be prompted to take a photo of their valid license as well as a “selfie” to authenticate the application. The facial recognition software requires users to blink while taking a photo of themselves to ensure that Zipcar is matching the license to its owner. Once a member has been approved, he or she can instantly reserve any of Zipcar’s 12,000-plus vehicles in more than 500 cities and towns around the globe.
The launch of Zipcar’s new join process is an incremental step in providing consumers with near-instant access to the Company’s growing number of mobility options. In addition to Zipcar’s round-trip model, which includes guaranteed parking, more than 60 vehicle types and advanced reservations, members in select markets now have access to the Company’s suite of flexible features that enables members to take a Zipcar one-way within a city.
For more information, visit www.zipcar.com .
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 .
Media Contact: Lindsay Wester Public Relations Manager, Zipcar 617.631.4612 lwester@zipcar.com
