The carmaker has signed a deal with German Ford dealers association FHD GmbH, and DB Rent – the company behind Flinkster car sharing – for a new car-sharing platform, dubbed FORD2GO.

The scheme is the first automotive manufacturer-backed, nationwide car-sharing program incorporating dealerships and will use participating Ford dealers across Germany to offer cars and service to customers in their town.

FORD2GO will be rolled out from the second quarter of 2013, with more than 500 cars expected to be made available from 50 dealerships by the end of the year.

DB Rent will deliver the web-based booking system and the app will be compatible with both iOS and Android mobile devices, and available for use by private and commercial customers.

The announcement of the new scheme follows a Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll, which has shown that more than half of Europeans would consider car sharing, either through a formal programme or through private arrangements.

‘Ford understands that for some of our customers – as this survey shows – car sharing is an attractive option,’ said Bernhard Mattes, chairman of Ford of Germany and vice president, Ford Customer Service Division, Ford of Europe. ‘As a company, we are committed to a collaborative and integrated approach to future mobility, and the FORD2GO service is another significant step in exploring exactly how that future could look.’

Ford’s German trade network includes 527 Ford dealers, 257 affiliated branches and 1083 Ford authorised repair shops, any of which would be able to take part in the programme.