Large carsharing organizations hope Philadelphia will continue transit-oriented mission after non-profit is bought by Enterprise

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - The largest carsharing organisations in Canada: Autoshare in Toronto, Communauto in Quebec and Modo The Car Co-op in Vancouver, hope that the acquisition of PhillyCarShare by Enterprise Holdings will not change its environmental and social objectives - which they have held for nearly 10 years - into a car rental program.

"Carsharing and car rentals do not serve the same purpose, needs, community objectives or the same transit goals", Tanya Paz, Business Development Director, Modo.

According to the most widely accepted definition of carsharing, which has been adopted by the international Car Sharing Association (CSA), the International Union for Public Transport and many other legislators around the world, carsharing is in fact a transit-oriented concept, clearly different from car rentals. It is defined by its environmental and social purpose, designed for local residents, and decreases personal car ownership and overall distances travelled by car (www.carsharing.org/about/what-is-car-sharing/). The differing objectives between carsharing and car rentals bring about a radically different business model - whether carsharing is operated as a for-profit company or a not-for-profit organization.

"We hope that Enterprise will recognize their responsibility in taking over a significant non-profit organisation committed to its members and cleaner air in Philadelphia and that they will strive to continue this", says Kevin McLaughlin, President of Autoshare in Toronto.

"Members of the CSA have proven over the last 16 years, that transit-oriented carsharing can provide a service to their community without jeopardizing profitability - whilst the more commercial schemes that employ cars on demand or rental by the hour have yet to demonstrate that", says Benoît Robert, CEO of Communauto in Quebec.

About Autoshare, Communauto and Modo

AutoShare pioneered carsharing in Toronto beginning in 1998, and this locally-owned company has grown to provide 24/7 self-serve access to the greenest rental fleet in the city.

Communauto is the oldest and the second largest carsharing organisation in North America.

Modo is a not-for-profit co-operative and has helped carsharing in Canada grow with almost 10 new co-ops since our inception.

All three represent over 2 000 cars and 40 000 members and service 11 cities.

SOURCE COMMUNAUTO