Cambridge car club set for new Enterprising era

A Cambridge car club will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a new supplier and plans for expansion.

The car club, run on behalf of Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, has appointed the global vehicle rental company, Enterprise, in a deal which starts on August 9.

The service has been running in Cambridge since 2009, providing individuals and businesses with access to transport which can hired by the hour or day.

The club supports the councils’ goals of improving air quality through the use of cleaner vehicles, reducing vehicle emissions and cutting congestion as well as encouraging car share.

Enterprise Car Club was appointed because of the company’s ambition to expand the service and to make more low-emission vehicles available for hire.

Vehicles will be located at various car parks in Cambridge as well as on-street bays. The majority of the vehicles will be hybrid Toyota Yaris, in addition to a number of vans.

Enterprise said it is committed to making the transition process as easy as possible for existing car club members by waiving its membership fee. Existing members can simply quote CCAR20 to become Enterprise members for free and get a £20 driving credit. Additionally, the councils have negotiated a discounted rate for all Cambridge residents.

James Elms, head of commercial services at the county council, said: “The council is committed to improving air quality, reducing congestion and cutting vehicle emissions, and the car club is an important part of our strategy.

“Enterprise Car Club was chosen following a rigorous tendering process. One reason for that selection was their ambition to expand the car club with more low-emissions vehicles. Existing car club members can look forward to an improved service with more vehicles available to hire and I hope they will be joined by many new members.”

Cambridgeshire County Council’s chair of highways and infrastructure committee, Cllr Mathew Shuter, added: “We want to ensure residents, students and businesses in the city have access to cost-effective and low-emission vehicles at any time and this new, improved scheme will do just that.

“People can use them for business trips rather than bringing their own cars into work, which relieves the pressure on the morning commute and on parking spaces.”