Megan Graff and "Armson," a Honda Accord she rents near her Washington, D.C., home.
Passing the Zipcard over a sensor unlocks the door.
Both Griffith and Abrams say such interest only validates the category's potential. "If Enterprise didn't see an opportunity there, they just wouldn't be doing it," Abrams says. "But the size of the market has yet to be determined. Is this a multibillion-dollar segment? Probably not. But is there a lot more upside? Sure."
Griffith likens Zipcar to other companies that have disrupted old-school models with new technologies, such as Netflix, which reinvented the video rental business, and ing, which challenged traditional bankers with a simple online strategy. "It's incumbent on us as the category leader with the best brand and technology to stay ahead," he says. "Our membership base is our most viral marketing tool. I don't think rental-car companies have done much to engender loyalty." Perhaps the kind of loyalty that keeps customers like Graff hooked on cars like Armson.
Joel of MA @ Oct 08, 2009 18:51:53 PM
VKM of NY @ Apr 11, 2009 15:47:19 PM
michael of OR @ Feb 25, 2009 03:28:32 AM