TravelCar Carsharing Service Enters U.S. Market Selecting Los Angeles as its Headquarters

TravelCar, the global innovator in airport parking and carsharing for travelers, announced today it has entered the U.S. market, selecting Los Angeles as its headquarters and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for its first U.S. operation. Founded in 2012 and currently operating in 30 countries in 200 locations, TravelCar’s concept is simple: provide travelers free airport parking and help them earn money by renting out their car to other travelers while they are away.

To celebrate its American launch, TravelCar will host a “Passport to Paris” scavenger hunt in Santa Monica, CA on Saturday, July 15, where teams will race to find clues that lead the winning pair to a dream vacation in Paris. July 15 is the day after Bastille Day, also known as French National Day.

“The car culture in Los Angeles is unlike any city in the US and while a vehicle is critical to enjoying all of the unique neighborhoods and geographies of the area, many cars sit idle - especially while we’re traveling,” said Ahmed Mhiri, CEO of TravelCar. “LA was a natural choice for TravelCar to enter the U.S. market because we offer solutions to both car owners and travelers.”

TravelCar is more than an online car listing marketplace - it’s a mix of a traditional car rental company and carsharing where the best of each model is used with three kinds of services offered to travelers:

• Car owners who agree their car can be rented by other travelers benefit from free airport parking. If their vehicle is rented, the car owner is paid for every mile driven. Owners can travel with ease knowing their car is protected with $1 million in liability insurance and is covered against theft and physical damage. If the car is not rented, they still benefit from free parking.
• Car owners who prefer not to share their car will receive the lowest airport parking rates guaranteed.
• Travelers looking to rent a vehicle can have access to a private car for up to 70 percent less than traditional rental car companies.

“As consumers look for ways to save, owning a car becomes less important. That means carsharing will continue to grow as the preferred mobility option,” continued Mhiri. “We understand that people have a big attachment to their car. The comfort of working with an international, customer-centric company with a successful track record of more than five years with high customer satisfactions ratings cannot be overstated.”

TravelCar is now open at its LAX location at 9020 Bellanca Ave. It expects to bring 20 new jobs to the Los Angeles area in 2017. TravelCar has an aggressive expansion plan, with San Francisco opening in July followed by eight additional markets this year.

About TravelCar

TravelCar is the world leader in airport based carsharing services. Founded in 2012, TravelCar currently operates in 30 countries and provides travelers free parking at airports, train stations and city centers in exchange for renting out their cars to other travelers. TravelCar is known for investing heavily on customer service with a best in industry call center available 24 hours a day. TravelCar also brokers parking spots at an extensive network of parking facilities through travel agencies and its website travelcar.com. TravelCar raised more than $20 million in funding through several rounds and French car maker Groupe PSA currently serves as a shareholder. For more information, visit www.travelcar.com.