More cars, new models and added parking areas, Communauto has seen bigger this year to meet the ever-increasing demand in Montreal.
The car-sharing company announced Friday morning five new features that will be implemented in the coming weeks in the metropolis.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
A record number of vehicles deployed
The car fleet is growing in 2023 with 885 vehicles which will be added to the fleet already in circulation. Of this total, 770 vehicles will be available with a station reservation and 115 in FLEX.
By way of comparison, Communauto was only able to obtain 550 cars last year due to supply difficulties.
If it is therefore an increase, this number remains slightly lower than the objective of the company which wanted to deploy 1150. “It is not said that we will not be able to add more during the season” , however mentioned Benoit Robert, president and founder of Communauto.
About 710 vehicles will be put into service over the summer and the rest will come into operation in the fall.
More flexibility with 90 “station-zones”
The car-sharing service has decided to launch a pilot project of 90 new “zone stations” this summer to “give customers more leeway”.
The cars will thus be available in the street with parking stickers like the Communauto FLEX, but can be reserved up to a month in advance. They will be parked in an area of 500 meters by 500 meters.
“It lets the customer know that the car is going to be in an area small enough not to walk a crazy distance to pick up their car,” explained Mr. Robert.
These zones will first be opened in the boroughs of Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Sud-Ouest, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâces, Outremont, Verdun and Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension will be added later.
These spaces will allow Communauto “to deploy more vehicles and to give much more access in certain sectors where demand was very strong”, according to Sophie Mauzerolle, person in charge of transport and mobility on the executive committee of the City.
Electric vehicles… but less than expected
Last year, Communauto succeeded in adding 30 electric cars to its fleet. The company, however, expected to receive a hundred. “It’s almost a favor you get when you manage to get electric cars,” said Robert.
Of the hundred still claimed in 2023, Communauto will be able to deploy 80 this time.
“One of the problems we face is that dealers prefer to sell cars to individuals rather than companies that manage vehicle fleets,” noted the president of the company.
New and bigger models
Communauto has chosen to diversify its fleet to meet demand. Thus, Nissan Sentra, Nissan Kicks, KIA Forte 5, KIA Sportage, KIA Sorento and KIA Carnival will be added.
Some of these models are considered “minivans” which can accommodate up to eight passengers.
New sectors served
The car-sharing service is expanding its presence on the island of Montreal by trying to offer more and more vehicles outside the central districts.
About a hundred reserved stations will be added, particularly in the Bois-Franc sector of the borough of Saint-Laurent, but also in Rivière-des-Prairies.
The FLEX zone will also make its appearance in Lachine. It will also be extended to Montreal North by making it possible to have cars available as far as Cégep Marie-Victorin.