GoCar, the on-street instant car rental service, has announced a €10 million investment which will see it move beyond its traditional urban bases in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick.
In a statement, the company said that the: "investment is part of GoCar's commitment to provide sustainable and convenient mobility solutions to meet growing customer demand for alternative transport options to private vehicle ownership."
280 new vehicles
The €10 million injection will expand GoCar's fleet of vehicles, allowing it to offer both more choice and new locations. In total, 280 new cars and vans will be added, and the number of sites for collection and drop-off will expand by 149, which GoCar says will include "both urban and rural communities. This expansion aims to provide users with a broader range of vehicle types, ensuring increased choice and flexibility when it comes to public transport options."
So far this year, GoCar's Irish fleet has expanded from 820 vehicles to 930, and the total number of locations from which you can pick up a car is planned to reach 600 by the end of this year, spread across 24 counties.
Part of the investment will also be devoted to a new website, app, and loyalty system.
Community-led approach
Commenting on the announcement, Paul McNeice, Head of Country for GoCar, said: "At GoCar, we believe in creating a community-led approach to mobility, becoming an integral part of the fabric of localities across the country. Our investment reflects our dedication to increase the availability of sustainable and flexible transport options to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
"We are proud to be Ireland's leading car sharing provider, driving change and innovation in the market. Our expansion beyond traditional urban centres aligns with our mission to make car sharing more accessible for drivers across the country in all the regions.
"Over the past three years, we have been evolving beyond our legacy urban hubs in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and we are committed to making GoCar available in 24 counties across ROI by the end of 2023."
As part of the plan, GoCar will introduce new categories for rental. These will start with GoLocal - smaller vehicles aimed at urban journeys. There will also be GoExplore, using larger SUVs suitable for longer family trips. The 'GoLocal' new entry-level model is available to rent from €9 per hour /€50 daily, while the 'GoExplore Plus' can be booked from €15 per hour or €80 per day.
More electric choices
There will be a third category, GoElectric, which will, according to GoCar: "address the growing demand for electric vehicles in 2024 by collaborating with strategic partners to bolster the expansion of its electric range, providing environmentally conscious customers with sustainable transportation choices."
Paul McNeice continued, "Our customers recognise the environmental benefits of embracing multi-modal transport, combining walking, cycling, public transit, trains, and car sharing to meet varied needs. Our research, based on European studies, shows that GoCar annually removes over 8,000 cars from Irish roads, underlining our sustainability commitment. Notably, 62 per cent of users abstain from car ownership while 57 per cent actively use public transport. Separately, 60 per cent of our users said they would consider purchasing a car if GoCar didn't exist. As attitudes shift toward sustainability, GoCar's fleet expansion investment addresses alternative and multi-modal transport needs effectively.
"We are excited to continue this journey of innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. As the year progresses, at GoCar we remain committed to delivering accessible and flexible transport solutions to meet the needs of a dynamic and ever-evolving market."