Car-sharing company ZipCar to end UK operations

Automobile-sharing platform Zipcar has mentioned it’s to shut its UK operations by the tip of the 12 months.The US-based firm, which is owned by automotive rental large Avis Price range, informed clients it would briefly droop new bookings after 31 December, pending the result of a session with its 71 workers members.In an e mail to members, UK boss James Taylor mentioned the agency had launched a proper session with staff and bookings as a result of end by the tip of the month had been being honoured.ZipCar UK and Avis Price range have been contacted for remark.Zipcar members would nonetheless have the ability to use the fleet over Christmas and till 31 December, it mentioned.The corporate has about 650,000 members within the UK who hire automobiles by the hour or day from an app and acquire the autos from parking areas, making it the UK’s largest car-sharing operator.Zipcar closed its operations in Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol final 12 months to concentrate on its core London market, the place it has greater than 550,000 members.In its most up-to-date firm accounts for 2024, Zipcar blamed the “value of residing disaster”, which was affecting UK clients, for revenues falling to £47m from £53m the 12 months earlier than, whereas its after-tax losses had widened to £11.6m.In response to the identical accounts, Zipcar membership charges cowl the price of fuelling or charging the car and, as vitality prices continued to rise final 12 months, it has added to monetary pressures on the corporate.The corporate would even be answerable for the incoming congestion cost in London that’s increasing to incorporate electrical autos from 26 December, though this was not referenced in Zipcar’s e mail to membership or firm accounts.