BMW Begins Offering Car Sharing Service San Francisco

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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has launched its DriveNow car sharing program in San Francisco, and its ParkNow parking service will to the city in September. DriveNow uses a fleet of 70 electric BMW AcitveEsBMW ActiveEGermany, 2011 > 201126 photos
from nine locations at launch. 

Users register online or specific locations to be part of the program and download an app that shows the locations of the cars, and allows users to reserve them. BMW has worked with a California company to make sure there are charging locations at all of the hubs. DriveNow is the first car sharing service that offers premium vehicles.

DriveNow was first launched in Germany in 2011. It has 45,000 members in Germany. It has locations in Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf and beginning in the fall, Cologne.

"The launch of DriveNow and ParkNow in San Francisco and other cities is part of our commitment to the development of new mobility offerings, which will reduce the level of pollutant emissions and traffic congestion and improve quality of life for residents,” said BMW Head of Sales and Marketing Ian Robertson. 

BMW plans to change its DriveNow fleet to the i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present26 photos
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when that vehicle launches in 2013. 

ParkNow, which comes in September, is a service that reserves parking spot for a clearly defined rate. Users can reserve spots with either a smartphone app or online. When it launches, it will have 14 locations in San Francisco.