Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1132126
20.06.19 TRENDSETTERS CARSHARING solution GoTo will be branch- ing out from its popular one-way service an pro- vide an around the clock roundtrip service. This just announced round-trip service is expected to increase convenience and reliabil- ity allowing users to book ahead and secure a vehicle three months in advance. Prior to this initiative, GoTo's one-way service could only be booked just 15 minutes in advance. Car Sharing Services Malta CEO Liran Golan said: "Our GoTo car sharing option has grown exponentially within just six months and we are witnessing a trend where those living in Malta are slowly seeking alternatives to owning a car this new service continues to build on this green philosophy," said Golan. According to the company's figures, almost 6,500 drivers have registered to use its fleet of electric cars with an average of 600 trips a day being recorded. Whilst at the same time, inter- national research is showing that the car-shar- ing market is growing at a rapid rate as govern- ments introduce positive directives for such services. According to a company spokesperson, "this coupled with citizens' increasing concerns over environmental degradation, as well as the high maintenance and upfront cost attached with personal cars, people are preferring shared mo- bility services for commuting." GoTo's new roundtrip service uses hybrid Toy- otas and once the prepaid time is over all you have to do is just drop off the car at the same spot you picked it up from. A total of 30 cars will be made available from 10 localities across Malta and Gozo starting this week. Contrary to the one-way service, these cars can only be accessed from private parking areas. "Our goal is to offer an innovative, cost-effi- cient and convenient alternative to owning a car. This ties in with government plans to introduce alternative transportation modes, and reduce dependency on private cars," Golan expressed. Last November, Car Sharing Services Malta (CSSM), a subsidiary of CAR2GO Israel, has unveiled a car-sharing service using a fleet of electric cars. Initially, a fleet of 150 cars spread across 68 localities in Malta and Gozo were in- troduced to the island. The cars can be found in some 450 designated parking spaces with ac- companying charging points. 6,500 drivers signed up to car- sharing solution in first seven months GoTo's new roundtrip service uses hybrid Toyotas