Audi e-tron's ready to share
Audi New Zealand is partnering with Wellington start-up car-sharing company Mevo to deliver what it says is New Zealand's first electric hybrid car sharing service with three Audi A3 e-tron models.
Mevo says the three e-tron models would be based in Wellington's CBD, but the company would be expanding during the next year in Wellington and Auckland.
Like other car-sharing companies already operating in Auckland such as Cityhop, Mevo connects customers to vehicles in their neighbourhood via a smartphone app.
Users can hire the vehicles for a couple of hours or three days for a fixed hourly rate.
Cityhop has small Toyotas placed strategically around parts of Auckland's CBD.
However Mevo is understood to be the first such service in New Zealand offering hybrid vehicles.
The co-founder and CEO of Mevo, Erik Zydervelt, said the company had ambitious expansion plans.
"We're privileged to be partnering with Audi New Zealand and Wellington based Audi dealership Armstrong Prestige to curate our network of vehicles," he said.
"We've decided to start with the stylish and efficient Audi A3 e-tron Sportback, as our customers expect seamless, joyful experiences with technology and, in our opinion, we've been able to create that with this vehicle."
The Audi A3 e-tron has a combined electric and petrol output of 150kW, and offers up to 50km of range in electric-only mode, or up to 890km range in hybrid mode.
Audi New Zealand general manager Dean Sheed said Mevo aligned with his company's progressive strategy to be at the forefront of electric mobility services in New Zealand.
The link with Mevo also provided a great way to showcase the e-tron models.
"The Audi A3 e-tron is leading the way to an electric future with its superb combination of style and innovation."
An attempt to establish a "large scale PEV-based (plug-in electric vehicle) car-sharing scheme in Auckland" last year failed to attract international players, although such schemes operate in larger, more compact cities such as London, Paris and Sydney.
The Government is also encouraging the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.