BMW ponders expanding its DriveNow car-sharing program by 25 cities

By Nick Jaynes March 12, 2014

bmw ponders expanding drivenow car sharing program 25 cities — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Some motoring enthusiasts see car sharing as the end of the car industry as we know it. While that might be true, it doesn’t seem to be deterring some automakers – specifically BMW.

The most Bavarian of automakers is reportedly considering expanding its existing car-sharing program – DriveNow – by 25 cities worldwide. The move would greatly expand its already-large program, which presently serves 240,000 customers.

Presently, BMW offers cars for share in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Dusseldorf and San Francisco. DriveNow is being considered for 10 to 15 new cities in Europe and 10 more Stateside.

“[DriveNow] offers very good opportunities for us to attract new customers,” Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW board member in charge of DriveNow told Bloomberg.

What new customers does BMW want to court with an expanded DriveNow program? Specifically, Bimmer has its eyes set on the young crowd. Funny, Audi has the same aspirations.

Would you be willing to pay to share a BMW 1 Series in your city? Tell us in the comments.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric

2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Cars

Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells

Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?

2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.