he 65,000-Member Strong, Free-Floating Car-Share is Coming to Seattle this Spring
BELLEVUE, Wash. — AAA Washington is bringing GIG Car Share, the free-floating car-share service, to Seattle this spring, providing affordable, convenient access to fuel-efficient vehicles. With more than 65,000 members joining GIG Car Share in just its first three years, its member-centric model has proven successful in Oakland, Berkeley and Sacramento, California. Seattle residents will start seeing Gig cars on the road in April, and the full fleet of 250 cars will be deployed in May.
“Our region is experiencing a fundamental shift from individual car ownership to people wanting transportation as a service,” said Kirk Nelson, President & CEO of AAA Washington. “Gig brings a member-focused approach to a service that is desperately needed in our region, and we’re excited to partner with Gig to bring car sharing back to Seattle.”
Gig’s one-way, free-floating, car-sharing model gives Seattle’s residents the flexibility to pick up and drop off in different locations, making it easy to find a nearby car, get in and go. With no application or sign-up fees and initial pricing of 40 cents per minute or $15 per hour, members pay as they go, making Gig more affordable than a traditional car rental. Gig offers 24/7 call center support and emergency road service, plus gas, insurance, and parking are built into Gig’s all-inclusive pricing. While, you don’t have to be a AAA member to use GIG Car Share, AAA members receive a 10% discount on every trip.
“We have three years of experience successfully operating car-share service in Sacramento, Berkley and Oakland, and we’re excited to expand into Seattle,” said Jason Haight, President of GIG Car Share. “As we bring Gig into its latest market, we look forward to working closely with the City of Seattle to meet more people’s transportation needs in the Pacific Northwest.”
“The City of Seattle is proud to partner with AAA Washington and GIG Car Share to foster an environment where mobility innovation can thrive,” said Sam Zimbabwe, Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation. “Car sharing is a critical component of making a city where people can have reliable transportation while reducing Single Occupancy Vehicle use and we are excited to have a new entrant into the market.”
Car sharing plays a vital role in expanding mobility options in urban centers. While many consumers need vehicles for their everyday transportation needs, expensive parking and maintenance costs deter private vehicle ownership. Gig provides its members with access to private vehicles without the added financial stress and responsibility of upkeep.
The addition of 250 vehicles in Seattle this spring will make Gig the largest free-floating car-share service in the nation. In just three years, Gig has grown to more than 65,000 members and, after the Seattle launch, will operate more than 1,000 hybrid and electric cars. According to a UC Berkeley study, every one-way car-share vehicle removes seven to 11 vehicles off the road, which eases congestion and reduces greenhouse gasses by four to seven metric tons per year. Every Gig comes with a bike rack, further enabling multi-modal transportation options.
GIG Car Share is offering two hours of free driving credit ($30 value) to drivers who register and are approved by March 15 using promo code SEAGIG. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information and to sign up for Gig, visit gigcarshare.com/seattle.
If you’d like to set up an interview with GIG Car Share and AAA Washington please contact amanda.niklowitz@ketchum.com.
About GIG Car Share
GIG Car Share, a service from AAA Northern California, is a one-way car share currently operating with 500 hybrid-electric Gigs in the San Francisco Bay Area and 260 all-electric Gigs in Sacramento. The service launched in 2017 as the first venture from A3Ventures, AAA’s innovation lab based in Berkeley, Calif. Learn more at gigcarshare.com.
Media Contact:
Amanda Niklowitz
Amanda.Niklowitz@Ketchum.com
