Zipcar chooses customer favorite Honda as preferred vehicle manufacturer

In a nod to its Zipster’s preferences, Zipcar has chosen Honda as its preferred vehicle manufacturer and will focus on alternative drive offerings.

For those seeking to have occasional access to a car, but who don’t want the hassle and expense of owning one, car sharing services are a godsend. Rather than forcing customers to suffer throught a drive in the traditional rental car, which more often than not turns out to be a stripped down version of the worst possible domestic make and model, car sharing services can choose to provide their customer-members with cars of the sort they might like if they were to choose for themselves. Those vehicles turn out to be compact, fuel efficient vehicles. If a hybrid or electric drive option is available, even better.

The Zipsters Win
Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, of Cambridge MA, and Honda, who is well, Honda, have forged an alliance that will give Zipcar members access to the most fuel efficient and green offerings of the Honda line-up. Honda wins here because it allows the maker to showcase its high technology and green vehicles to exactly the type of urban-affluent buyers who might make a Honda their own someday. Zipcar and its customer “members” win because those members consistently rank Honda as their preferred marque. Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar, sums up the partnership this way; "This win-win partnership with Honda adds to Zipcar's array of smart and sustainable transportation options and by introducing Zipsters to Honda's newest hybrid and electric vehicles we can help increase overall awareness of these exciting new technologies."

Green Vehicles
Included in the alliance will be some familiar models such as the Honda CR-V compact sport utility vehicle, which is a popular city vehicle choice. More importantly, the alliance will feature new Honda products such as the 2013 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Honda Accord. The new Fit battery electric vehicle will also be offered. The hybrid Insight rounds out the green offerings. Plug in vehicles make sense with car sharing since the vehicle is likely to be returned to a spot where it can be charged and since many rides are not longer than the battery can handle round trip.

The new alliance with Zip car makes Honda a preferred manufacturer to both companies’ benefit, but the real winners will be the Zipsters.