Arriva Denmark expands DriveNow fleet of on-demand cars by 50%

(London, 4 June 2018) Arriva, a leading pan-European passenger transport provider, has announced an expansion of its fleet of on-demand hire cars in Denmark by 50%, or 200 cars, following a successful trial of the initiative in Copenhagen.

DriveNow, an app-based service, allows customers to locate a car in a convenient place, pick up and drop off within the operating area and only pay for the time they use it. From today, 4 June, all 550 cars are available 24 hours a day, at a cost of as little as £12 per hour.

The fleet of BMW i3’s, BMW 1-series and 3- and 5-door Mini Coopers are nippy around the city and include a mix of electric and petrol cars available to flex with Copenhageners’ need for distance and luggage space. Benefits include immediate access without the associated cost and inconvenience of owning a car, while the city benefits from reduced congestion and emissions thanks to the 350-strong electric fleet.

Morten Jakobsen, Head of DriveNow in Denmark, said:

“Having a mix of electric and petrol-powered vehicles means customers can choose a vehicle depending on whether their journey is across the city or further out. Since we launched the scheme in 2015, 60,000 customers have registered to use the app. This demand is what has encouraged us to substantially increase the fleet to 550 cars.”

“We have listened to feedback from customers and now offer a mix of cars that suit individual passengers or families, depending on space needed. We believe we offer an innovative solution that integrates with other transport networks and gives Copenhageners a viable alternative to owning their own cars.”

The DriveNow concept, which originated in Germany and is established in 12 other European cities, has seen daily utilization of each car increase from two to more than five times per day, significantly more than private cars in Denmark, which are only on the road about an hour a day. For the remaining 23 hours, private cars typically stand unused, often blocking public parking spaces.

"It's always hard to be among first movers and change peoples’ habits”, added Jakobsen. “We have learned fast and, having established DriveNow in Denmark, are much more efficient. Customers can even unlock the cars using their smartphones. We are focused on making mobility easier while relieving the increasing congestion challenges we have in Copenhagen.”

There are currently no plans to bring the initiative to the UK.

ENDS