BMW Launches Car Sharing Service for Their Electric i3 Model

BMW is providing mobility services that include car sharing and ride sharing. This facility is called ReachNow, which would have its debut in Seattle and will be launched soon in other U.S. cities. Riders can use the electric BMW i3, the BMW 3 Series and the Mini Cooper.

The said mobility service is introducing with 370 BMWs, which you can pick up and drop off anywhere within Seattle, according to Engadget. This includes the metered parking spots.

The users can sign up in just 5 minutes. You will just scan your drivers licensed utilizing the ReachNow app. Then, take a photo yourself using the app and off you go! The ReachNow apps for Android and iOS are available in app stores.

The ReachNow service is similar to Car2go. On the other hand, the cost of ReachNow is $0.49 per minute while Car2go's cost is $0.41per minute. This makes the ReachNow more of the premium offering that Car2go.

Users must be registered once with a fee of $39. There are also hourly caps of $110 for 24 hours, $80 for 12 hours and $50 for three hours. The fees include parking meters within the service area, insurance and gas.

Meanwhile, Seeking Alpha reports that in addition to this new service, BMW also plans to allow the owners of the Mini Cooper, gas-powered BMW 3 Series and the BMW i3 to place their vehicles in the network resulting from compensation. Their goal is to provide a car-sharing service for those who want to drive but do not like to own a vehicle and wouldn't like to ride a taxi and for those who like to own a car as well as earn money from it.

The BMW wants to expand their plans and the car sharing service to three other U.S. cities by the end of the year. Peter Schwarzenbauer, the BMW executive said that they see themselves as the only one in the market that can cover this service to people with transportation need.