Zipcar to End UK Operations, Highlighting Challenges for Carsharing and Sustainable Travel
Zipcar will close its UK operations by the end of December 2025, withdrawing about 3,000 shared vehicles from Britain. This exit affects hundreds of thousands of people who rely on carsharing, reducing the number of shared cars to roughly one per 30,000 people in the country. Research shows that each shared vehicle replaces approximately 20 private cars.
Britain falls behind much of Europe in car club availability; for example, Germany has more than six times as many shared cars per capita. The departure of Zipcar is seen as an embarrassment for the UK government, which has promoted sustainable travel and carsharing in its National Planning Policy Framework but has not provided adequate support to car clubs.
In contrast, subsidies continue to favor private cars, including up to £1.95 billion for electric vehicle (EV) subsidies, £500 million in charging infrastructure grants, a £1.5 billion loan to Jaguar Land Rover, and a freeze on fuel duties. However, EVs are not a complete solution to emissions since they still generate brake and tyre particulate pollution and have associated manufacturing emissions. Some EVs reduce driving emissions by about 47%.
A Norwegian study noted that increased EV ownership correlates with a 10 to 20% rise in overall car trips; 94% of new cars sold in Norway are electric. These factors complicate efforts to reduce car dominance and highlight the challenges facing carsharing initiatives in the UK.
