Car sharing co-operation which provides 1'700 passenger cars and vans all over Switzer-land, also in alpine regions. Cars can be reserved at a call centre as well as internet based. Around 75-100 cars are based in alpine areas, many of them in the bigger cities of the alpine cantons (Chur, Brig, Interlaken), but 25-35 in more remote areas.
Project executive
Mobility CarSharing Schweiz is a cooperative that intends the gentle operation of all kind of vehicles regarding energy, environment and resources.
Participants
Public transport partners: Swiss Federal Railways SBB, ZVV Zuercher Verkehrsverbund (co-operation of all public transport companies in the Canton Zurich), TPG Transport public Genevoise, tl transports publics de la région lausannoise, TNW Tarifverbund Nordwest-schweiz, 11 additional regional tariff- and linked public transport co-operations.
Car rental partners: Avis and Hertz (reduced rental price for members)
Economy: MIGROS (supermarket chain), sells reduced membership cards and offers the possibility to collect so called 'Cumulus' points for their bonus program
Automobile and Mobility Associations: VCS (Verkehrsclub der Schweiz), TCS (Touring Club Schweiz)
Foreign partners: DBrent (subsidiary car sharing company of DB german railways), possi-bility of international Carsharing
EnergieSchweiz (swiss energy): SwissEnergy is the Swiss federal government programme tailored to the achievement of its energy and climate policy objectives.
Objectives
As the main car sharing provider Mobility offers a wide range of different vehicles (total around 1'700 vehicles) at over 1'000 locations all over Switzerland. Most Mobility stations are close to public transport facilities (like railway stations). All services are based on economic, technologic and ecologic efficiency considerations. Mobility offers professional and customer oriented car sharing at competitive prices.
Activities
Provision of car sharing products like passenger cars, vans, transporters and even fun oriented vehicles (convertibles). In combination with public transport companies reduced membership cars are available. Vehicles can be reserved any time via an internet website, vehicles are accessible with a smart card any time of day. Mobility also had different marketing activities in connection with private companies (MIGROS, IKEA) and public transport co-operations (ZVV).
Process
Mobility was founded on Mai 13th 1997 and was basically a merger between the two major established car sharing organisations in Switzerland (ATG-AutoTeilet Schweiz and Share-Com). The merged organisation had then around 3000 members in 1997, today there are almost 60'000 members.
Results
Mobility is an ongoing success story, since membership numbers increased by 7'500 members per year between 2001 and 2004.
Evaluation
Mobility has been evaluated several times with a special focus on recognition in public awareness, user's mobility behaviour and its ecological impacts. Details see below.
Difficulties
Merger of two different car sharing organisations was difficult due to different organisational structures and/or cultures. However, without this merger the tremendous success of the company would not have been possible.
Budget
Total earnings of about 42 mCHF, costs of about 41 mCHF. (Euro)
Financial backer
Today Mobility is an independent, self-financed non-profit organisation. In previous years substantial financial contributions have been paid by several Federal Offices, often in connection with specific projects (development of an on-board computer device, test operation in sparsely populated areas, etc.).