Don't Own a Car? Shop Anyway; IKEA, the First Bay Area Retailer to Promote Carsharing with Flexcar; Flexcar and Emeryville IKEA Celebrate Earth Day Together

Business Wire, April 21, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- You live in the City where parking is a nightmare. You give up your car, and you think you are doing the right thing -- for your neighborhood and for the environment. At the same time, you are saving a lot of money, so, of course, you go shopping! But how do you get that great couch you want at IKEA home? You need a pick-up truck. In celebration of Earth Day, April 22, 2006, Flexcar and IKEA commit to reducing carbon emissions by carsharing with Flexcar pick-ups.

Now IKEA shoppers can use a Flexcar pick-up, parked in the IKEA lot, to drive home with their large purchases, something that has been difficult for public transit users. As Flexcar expands its carsharing service from San Francisco to the East Bay, IKEA is the first retail store to embrace the concept. In addition, IKEA has adopted Flexcar as a transit solution for its own employees who travel between Bay Area IKEA stores in Emeryville, East Palo Alto and the new Sacramento store.

"This is an exciting step for IKEA in furthering our mission to support environmentally friendly initiatives. With Flexcar, we are helping our customers who use public transit, to shop at IKEA," said Mike O'Rourke, store manager for IKEA. "Also our coworkers will benefit from this program for business and personal use. We are thrilled to be part of an important carsharing movement dedicated to cutting carbon emissions."

Flexcar carsharing is easy. Members can reserve Flexcar pick-ups on the web or by phone, then use their Flexcard to unlock the door and drive away. Rates start at $9.00 per hour, with gas, parking and insurance included.

"Both IKEA and Flexcar share a larger mission, and Earth Day is a perfect venue to reinforce our commitments," said Flexcar San Francisco General Manager Dana Beard. "Our members are finding they have more disposable income by giving up their cars. We are happy to work with IKEA to promote shopping and carsharing. In the Bay Area, we have a dense population, great public transit, and a culture that values conservation and protecting the environment. Flexcar's goal is to make carsharing the most convenient form of transit on both sides of the Bay."

Used in conjunction with public transit, carpools and biking, carsharing helps individuals meet their transportation needs in an economic and environmentally responsible manner. Flexcar aims to have a car available within a five-minute walk of where our members are. Flexcar vehicles are clustered in the City's downtown Financial District and in numerous neighborhoods, including North Beach, Civic Center and Pacific Heights, and soon in Jack London Square in Oakland. In addition, Flexcar is the first carsharing company to offer service throughout the state of California, along the West Coast and across the country. Because Flexcar operates nationally, individual and business members can use vehicles from Seattle to San Diego and in 37 other cities in 6 states from coast to coast -- with more locations being added soon.

Facts on the Earth-Friendly Benefits of Carsharing

    --  Reduce traffic and parking congestion

        Studies show that for every carshare vehicle on the road, 14
        vehicles are taken off the road (on average). After joining
        Flexcar, about 60% of members report selling a car or avoiding
        buying a car. With more than 35,000 members, Flexcar has
        effectively taken over 12,000 vehicles off the roads.

    --  Keep it green

        Cars are parked on average more than 90% of the time. This
        reduces public use of open space and greenery in our cities to
        establish concrete parking spaces. With carshare vehicles, 24
        or more people typically share a single car. Think of how much
        land could be freed up as open space for everyone's enjoyment.

    --  Reduce dependency on oil

        With the largest fleet of hybrids in the nation, Flexcar is
        actively committed to using only the cleanest and most
        fuel-efficient vehicles. In San Francisco, hybrids make up 80%
        of the fleet.

    --  Increase healthy habits

        Surveys show that after joining Flexcar, carshare members walk
        more, bike more, and use more public transit. For those
        shopping trips, excursions outside the City, or for that trip
        to pick up a friend, they use Flexcar.

    --  Reduce vehicle emissions

        Each time a cold engine is started, it releases a burst of
        carbon emissions into the air. When members carshare, they
        tend to bundle their errands and make trip lists, maximizing
        their use of a warmed-up engine. When finished with their
        trip, another member can use the same warmed-up car.

Flexcar pioneered carsharing in the United States. Since 1998, more than 35,000 members in seven major metropolitan areas have enjoyed the freedom of having a car without the cost and hassles of ownership. Communities are realizing the benefits of reduced congestion, air pollution and energy use, while increasing use of public transportation and contributing to sustainable communities. More information on Flexcar's San Francisco operation is available at www.flexcar.com or by calling 415-282-3539.