A growing number of motorists, including business drivers, are using carsharing across borders in Europe, according to Daimler’s car2go subsidiary.

In the first quarter of 2017, the number of cross-border rentals increased by 80%.

The firm said that in the first quarter of 2017, the number of cross-border rentals increased by 80% to 33,000 journeys. This figure includes both business travel as well as tourist visits in European car2go locations.

Car2go said the sharing of vehicles in Germany by customers from other European locations is popular. The number increased in the first quarter by 79% to 19,500 journeys. In addition, German customers are increasingly using the car2go service in European cities in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Austria. Here, the number increased by 80% to 13,500 journeys.

Car2go CEO Olivier Reppert said: “Whether for a vacation or business travel, whoever wants to be out and about in other cities welcomes the practical and simple use of the car2go carsharing service. Our customers see themselves as part of an international community who like to share a car even beyond their own country’s borders.”