A fleet of 370 vehicles will take part in the launch of BMW's "ReachNow" car sharing service in Seattle. By the end of 2016, BMW will expand the car sharing network beyond Seattle to three additional cities.
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How does it work? Customers can download the ReachNow app and book the closest available car in BMW's fleet. When they're finished with the car, they simply return the car to any legal parking space on the street. ReachNow will also offer long-term car rentals, car sharing for residential and corporate groups, and car deliveries at a specific location. Buyers can also choose an Uber-style service and book a car with a driver.
The initial fleet will include BMW i3, BMW 3 Series, and Mini Cooper vehicles. The service charges drivers $0.49 for each minute the vehicle is used and $0.30 for each minute the vehicle is parked. Rates cap out at $50 for up to 3 hours, $80 for 12 hours, and $110 for a full day. These prices include insurance, fuel, and even parking at public meters on the street.
BMW isn't new to car sharing. In 2011, the automaker launched a service called DriveNow, and by 2012, a fleet of shared electric cars roamed the streets around the San Francisco Bay Area. But in November of last year, BMW suspended the service in San Francisco, effectively halting its car sharing efforts in the U.S. The DriveNow operation is still ongoing in Europe.
BMW has named Seattle as the official headquarters for ReachNow. Over time, the automaker wants to expand the service to 10 cities across North America. BMW joins General Motors, Ford, and other automakers with a clear car sharing strategy.
Source: BMW
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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