Consumer Perceptions of the Zipcar Car Sharing Services

In addition to their green initiatives, Ford is looking at other trends regarding consumer elasticity and behavior towards the automobile market. In addition to dealing with the shift in consumer short-term behavior (going from “I really want” to “I do not really need”), the automotive industry, along with all others are wondering what the long-term change will be in consumer behavior due to the recent recession. According to Barkley US, there will be significant long-term changes in consumer behavior. Most notably, the changes will be the consumer going back to a basics mentality, the use of technology and green strategy, and women influencing more purchase decisions. The biggest changes will take place in America and parts of Europe, where housing and stock market bubbles have imploded and unemployment has soared. Companies will also need to show they empathize with consumers’ new concerns. “There will need to be a move from passion to compassion in

It has everything a consumer leaving in a busy area of a metropolitan area can ask for. Convenience, cheap, and accessibility. This is everything that a customer living with out a vehicle in an area that a car is needed periodically can ask for.Weaknesses: To start up a business like this as Chase realized you need a lot of capital. Finding the money and investors that believe in your company is going to be the hardest thing to do. To lease new cars or not have enough cars for the demand of new customers can also be a hindrance in the growth of this company. Other areas of concern that need to be addressed are the costs and insurance and liability exposure that renting a car to somebody can have. With multiple of even a few wrecks or fatalities can easily close the doors to a company like Zipcar that is just getting started. Opportunities: The Zipcar company is a company that can be very easily started once the right infrastructure is in place and can even be pitched to investors as a franchise store. That can be duplicated in other areas of the country. There is not current niche for the type of people that Chase is targeting and is untapped market place with the proper marketing plan.Threats: Rental car companies can also offer rental of cars on an hourly basis. They can pick up customers as well. This is not advertised but can be done. Most importantly if Boston or New York, or Chicago have a very efficient Public

frustrated in the company’s unreliability and use other forms of transportation. Losing the trust of their members could potentially be a big challenge for Zipcar.

Toole Design Group, Bike Sharing In The United States: State Of the Practice and Guide to Implementation. N.p.: Toole Design Group, n.d. Print

The article, “Automakers Prepare for an America That’s Over the Whole Car Thing,” by Neal E. Boudette, was published on December 22, 2016 in The New York Times. Boudette informs the reader about how “novel” technologies are creating new alternative ways for people, particularly in urban settings, that commutes to different places. Young Americans consider owning a car unnecessary, or a necessary expense. Carmakers are looking at a future where cars will play a little role, or no role at all, in many people’s daily routines. Thus, many industries are in the process of

In recent years, major cities across the globe have developed innovative new methods of transportation that could revolutionize the way humans travel and ultimately replace automobiles throughout the industrialized world. Many supporters of this movement believe restricting the use of cars will have a positive impact on society as a whole. Some people believe that taking away automobiles is preposterous given the gravity of which citizens depend on them; although true, replacing cars would have significant benefits throughout society that would outweigh this consequence and ultimately create a new global social order. Restricting cars in cities and encouraging alternate methods of transportation would reduce humans’ carbon footprint, make cities

America’s modern society thrives on the need for personal vehicles. The desire to be an individual is evident in the choice of a car; it states personality and class, and it represents independence and freedom. However, if it was not for World War II, cars would not be what they are today.

Automakers are using car-sharing programs to simply offer a stress free alternative to car ownership. They enable drivers to use a car without the financial burdens. They also provide flexibility to the customer based the client’s need at the time. For those who cannot afford an automobile, Car-sharing service can offer flexibility of usage and also allows opportunities for customers to avoid late return fees by extending reservations, as when the driver might be stuck in a traffic jam and not be able to get the vehicle back on time. Unlike carpooling, car sharing gives me the independence to drive wherever and whenever I want, at a tiny fraction of the cost of owning a car. However like any other program car-sharing have disadvantages. The program is an affordable and reliable service, but that is part of the reason why it has many disadvantages such as the dealership running out of stock and competition from other companies who have initiated the program. The lower cost of the service could cause people to stop using their own vehicles and use car sharing instead. The car share companies are not growing fast enough to accommodate the sudden interest in the service could also prove to be a disadvantage. This options also allow clients to reserve vehicles unfortunately some people reserve them knowing they may not need it. This means that vehicles remain locked to people who genuinely need the services.

The automobile industry has brought the United States economic growth due to the impact that automobiles have made on society. There has been a plethora of jobs associated with the auto industry, including manufacturing, auto repairs, insurance, and the development of roads, sales, and auto parts to enhance vehicles. Cars, trucks, and SUVs’ have become a way of life for people and have made an additional economic impact by becoming the primary means of transportation for consumers to commute to and from work, vacations, and travel between destinations. Most family households live on a budget and they must make the decision of how much of their budget they can allocate to transportation costs.

For our initial strategy we wanted to choose a product line that would be most intriguing to customers in this poor economy. To initiate this we focused our products around better gas mileage, safety, and quality. In order to do this we needed to evaluate consumers’ needs and desires when making a high involvement purchase such as a car. We believe the best target market for this type of car would be a middle class family that does not have as much disposable income due to the recession in our economy.

The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act (CARS), otherwise known as “Cash for Clunkers”, was a $3 billion U.S. program introduced by Representative Betty Sutton from Ohio. Additionally, the bill was co-sponsored by Representative Bradley of Iowa and Representative Miller of Michigan. The sponsors of the bill believed the initiative would “accelerate motor fuel savings nationwide and provide incentives to registered owners of high polluting automobiles to replace such automobiles with new fuel efficient and less polluting automobiles...” (Sutton).

Amy Westervelt’s article “Bike-Sharing Grows Up: New Revenue Models Turn a Nice Idea into Good Business” explains how bike-sharing programs work and what you can do to benefit your health. The bike sharing business that the author spoke about the sharing business in the small town in California that the author grew up in. This business came to naught because bikes were stolen and poorly managed. But the sharing business in Paris succeeded, and the bike-sharing businesses all around the world. Bike-sharing businesses became more fortuitous with improved bikes, advertising and funding. The bike-sharing program in Paris must have been managed a lot prominent with preferable schemes for bikes and the city that the program is in. They also had a

Zipcars have benefits that stand out over owning your own car. These benefits are that you no longer have the expense of car-payments, insurance, gas or routine maintenance repairs. Although it is similar to a rent-a-car, it is more practical when you need a car for an hour or so to run an errand. I first heard about Zipcars a few years back since a local college campus was using them. Students that lived on campus, normally walked to classes, however, there was times when transportation was needed to get to a Doctor’s appointment or somewhere across town. A Zipcar reservation can be made online or on a smart phone. It’s quick and convenient and hip. Your Zip card is your key to unlocking the door and driving away. It has become very popular in urban areas, where there are few parking spaces and many parking fees. Their marketing position is to be quick, easy, hip and convenient. You should never have to walk far to access a Zipcar.

Zipcar is the world 's largest car sharing and car club service. It is an alternative to traditional car rental and car ownership. Subsidiary of Avis Budget Group; founded in January 2000, serving urban areas throughout Austria, Canada, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, founded by Antje Danielson and Robin Chase in the state of Massachusetts (Zipcar, 2014). Each and every Zipcar takes 15 personally owned vehicles off the road, 10% of the population is expected to adopt car sharing as their primary mode of transportation. After joining Zipcar 90% of members drove 5,500 miles or less per year, and last but not least Zipcar creates more green space by sharing cars and tearing down the total of parking lots (Zipcar, 2014). At Zipcar, it is not just about fewer cars, less congestion and less pollution, but it is about understanding why those things are a problem, and finding sustainable solutions. Zipcar charges a one-time application fee, and an annual fee. Car renting at other locations do not cover fuel, insurance, parking or maintenance but with Zipcar they cover all four and it is free of charge to their members. Zipcar members have automated access to Zipcars using an access card, which works with the car 's technology to unlock the door, where the keys are already located inside. Zipcars have RFID transponders on the windshield that communicates with the card to lock and unlock the doors of the vehicle. Zipcar also offers an iPhone or Android

Vehicles are a part of a person’s everyday life these days. You see them everywhere, no matter if it’s a big city, or a little country town. People use cars to travel to all sorts of places, whether it is a school or work. We push our vehicles to the maximum so they seem to wear out really fast. It seems like every five to six years you have to purchase a new one. People have so many causes to by a new car these days but owning a car also comes with a lot of effects. New cars come with a lot of benefits like reliability and warranties. The biggest downfall with buying that brand-new car is the car payment and that expensive car insurance. A new car might look good, and you might get more attention, but you pay for that attention. You must ask yourself is the cost worth the award?