The firm, a joint venture between BMW and Sixt AG, will initially run 260 vehicles covering the BMW 1 Series and 2 Series Active Tourer and three/five-door MINI Hatch models. DriveNow added that the plan is to expand the range of models in Stockholm, including electrical vehicles such as the BMW i3 run in other schemes, in the future but the exact time frame is as yet undecided.  

Vehicles will be operated within a 50km² area covering the city centre as well as areas of Kista, parts of Solna, Sundbyberg, Bromma and Arlanda Airport. 

The scheme will use the DriveNow ‘free-floating’ car-sharing concept, whereby the cars can be rented and returned to any legal parking space in the business area.

Users will pay SEK 4.50 per minute while driving and SEK 2.50 per minute when the car is parked. Fuel, insurance, taxes and parking costs are all included in the price. 

“Research suggests that a large percentage of Stockholm residents have a real need to occasionally access a car, without actually wanting to own one,” said Fredrik Ellsäter, CEO of DriveNow Sweden. 

In a special launch promotion, the first 1,000 customers who register will receive free lifetime membership and 20 minutes of driving time.