VANCOUVER 鈥� The company that merged with Car2Go, a car-sharing company in Vancouver, says it is shutting down operations in North America in the new year.
Share Now says, in a letter to members, that its last day will be Feb. 29.
The company says the decision was based on 鈥渢wo extremely complicated realities,鈥� including the volatile state of the mobility industry, and the rising costs to sustain operations in the North American market.
Share Now also said the region聽lacks the necessary infrastructure to support electric vehicles. The company will focus instead on its 18 European cities.
鈥淲e want to say thank you to our customers, the City of Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver, who have supported us since we launched in the market in 2011. We are saddened by this decision and deeply apologize for the inconvenience this will cause you when service ends,鈥� Share Now says in the letter.
In a statement on its website, Share Now says it believes European markets show 鈥渢he clearest potential鈥� for profitable growth and mobility innovation.
In Vancouver, the last day to start a trip in one of their vehicles will be on Feb. 29, with all trips ending no later than 11:59 p.m.
The company is encouraging customers to use up any remaining credits as soon as they can.
In March, Car2Go, which has 200,000 members in Vancouver, announced that its fleet of 1,200聽vehicles would merge with Share Now.
The company refused to say how many employees would be losing their jobs, but said it is closing operations in Montreal, New York, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Vancouver. It will also shut down business in three European cities, including Florence, London and Brussels.
