Avancar

Avancar operated as a pioneering car-sharing service in Spain, establishing its presence in Barcelona in 2004 before being formally constituted in 2005. The company was initiated through a collaborative effort involving public entities like the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Council, private companies, and the Association for the Promotion of Public Transport. This initial structure highlights a foundational goal of integrating into the city's mobility framework.

The company's business model was centered on providing vehicles for rent on an hourly or daily basis, targeting users who needed occasional access to a car without the costs and responsibilities of ownership. Clients could book a diverse range of vehicles—from utility cars to vans—through an online platform or mobile app, available 24/7. This model is known as round-trip car-sharing, where vehicles are picked up and returned to the same designated parking spot. Revenue was generated through membership fees (monthly or annual) and usage charges based on time. The pricing was all-inclusive, covering fuel, insurance, and maintenance.

A significant milestone in Avancar's history was the strategic investment by Zipcar, the world's leading car-sharing network, which began in December 2009. This partnership evolved, and by February 2012, Zipcar had acquired a majority stake in Avancar, aiming to scale the business by leveraging its advanced technology and operational expertise. The service was then rebranded as 'Avancar, a Zipcar company'. In 2013, the trajectory shifted again when Avis Budget Group acquired Zipcar for approximately $500 million, thus indirectly bringing Avancar under the umbrella of a global vehicle rental giant. Under this new ownership, Avancar expanded its operations to Madrid in 2014. However, the venture concluded its journey when it ceased operations in Madrid in 2017 and subsequently in Barcelona on February 28, 2019, marking the end of its 14-year run.

Keywords: Avancar, car-sharing Spain, Barcelona mobility, Zipcar Spain, Avis Budget Group, vehicle rental service, round-trip carsharing, hourly car rental, sustainable mobility, urban transportation, public-private partnership, fleet management, Catalonia carsharing