Istanbul marks Zipcar’s sixth European city and joins the company’s established presence in the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Austria.

The expansion to Istanbul celebrates Zipcar’s third new European market in seven months as it accelerates growth and increases its footprint to meet increasing consumer demand.

Massimo Marsili, president, Zipcar International, said: “With a population of over 14 million, Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the world, and like many of the cities where we operate, is challenged with increasing pressure on the transport infrastructure and the environmental impact of congestion in the city. We are delighted to be able to provide an alternative mobility solution to residents in Istanbul and to play our part in helping to reduce congestion in the city. Our service is environmentally friendly, complementary to public transportation and ideal for a new generation of smart consumers who are looking for goods and services that are available on demand.”

Launching today as Zipcar’s first licensee, Zipcar Turkey will be operated by Otokoç Otomotiv, a unit of Koç Holding. 

Inan Ekici, assistant general manager, Otokoç, said: “Today’s launch of Zipcar in Istanbul represents an exciting opportunity for us to meet the needs of the city dweller by providing a convenient and flexible mobility solution that saves money, reduces hassle and improves urban living.  As a vibrant destination for both tourism and business, Istanbul is an increasingly popular travel destination. We are excited to be launching our first wave of locations across the city today and look forward to providing Zipcar’s existing member base with access to Zipcars when they travel to the city.”