The project began with a pilot that will be followed by a full launch in September 2017. The service was officially opened to the public with a total of 95 vehicles – 80 Smart cars and 15 fully electric BMW i3s.
The first of its kind in the country, this eco-friendly fleet from Urbano will offer residents of São Paulo a new and more convenient option for transportation.
The easy-to-use service operates in a one-way manner, meaning drivers can end their trip in any of the 35 designated Home Zones (places like Moema, Vila Nova Conceição, and Vila Madalena, to name a few) for less than a traditional taxi. On average, users will pay R$ 1.45 per minute.
Through Urbano’s smartphone app, users will be able to locate all available vehicles, reserve a car, and unlock their doors. The service is powered by Vulog, and its end-to-end technological solution includes Smartphone Apps, In-Car Technology, and a Back End to operate the service.
Vulog is leading the shared mobility revolution around the world. With this new partnership, the company will be present in seven countries across four continents. Other clients and partners include PSA in Madrid with emov, Evo Car Share in Vancouver, Mevo in New Zealand, and GreenMobility in Copenhagen, etc.
“The fundamental pillars of Urbano Carsharing are reducing traffic and decreasing pollution in the city, which will lead to a healthier quality of life for the people of São Paulo,” said Leonardo Domingos (photo), CEO of LDS. “The intention is to encourage regular use of the vehicles for trips between home and work, although customers can use them for all their travel needs.”
“Urbano is bringing the right service to the right city at the right time,” said Greg Ducongé, CEO of Vulog. “São Paulo is an ideal city for free-floating car sharing, and Urbano will meet a much-needed demand for cleaner and more convenient transportation. We are proud to partner with them on this venture.”