Why is Zipcar launching in Paris now?
Etienne Hermite - During its first ten years of existence, Zipcar has mainly developed in the United States, its original base, before launching into Europe around five years ago, mainly through acquisitions in London, Barcelona and Vienna. The acquisition of Zipcar by the Avis Budget group has accelerated this development. Paris is one of the biggest potential markets for car sharing, so it's only natural that this destination should now become one of Zipcar's priority cities.
Why didn't you also proceed by acquisition on the French market?
E. H. - Zipcar's ambition is to open up many markets in Europe, and one of the best ways of doing that is to launch our own activities. Our expertise should enable us to expand very quickly in the French market, and to become the leader in car sharing in France.
How do you see this new market?
E. H. - It's a market that's very well educated about car-sharing and the uses of new mobility, with a population that's very tech-savvy and very keen on this kind of innovation, so I think that Zipcar's use will develop very quickly. Parisians are now used to using self-service cars and bicycles. We are therefore convinced that Zipcar will be able to develop very quickly. Zipcar will grow, and could well soon be available in other cities, in railway stations, and more generally in transport hubs. And our Parisian members can already use their Zipcard to access one of the 10,000 cars available throughout the world, in Europe or the United States.
What role do business customers play in your start-up strategy?
E. H. - We are looking to optimise the use of our vehicles. Our leisure customers mainly use our vehicles in the evenings and at weekends, so it's in our interest to develop offers for professionals and businesses on weekdays. We are therefore proposing the Zipcar Pro offer, an all-inclusive solution from 7am to 7pm from €35, including fuel.
What assets do you have to become market leader in France?
E. H. - We can draw on fifteen years' experience, which has enabled us to know what to do and what not to do. This is extremely valuable. We have a value proposition and a brand that are likely to attract a very large number of customers. And we can count on the support of the Avis Budget Group, and the resources we need to grow.
