# Ford partners with ZipCar for some college campuses **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708 "2011-09-07T01:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708/1 "2011-09-07T01:00:45Z")
_In the two-year partnership, Zipcar would add up to 650 Fords to its car lineup in the current academic year and up to 1,000 vehicles during the life of the deal, Ford said in a statement on Wednesday._ The company said Zipcar would offer $10 discount on its $35 annual membership fee for the first 100,000 sign ups, and $1 off its hourly rate for the first 1 million hours for the use of any Ford vehicle at certain colleges. Read more: [http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110901/RETAIL04/110909990/1018#ixzz1XDx4yF6r](http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110901/RETAIL04/110909990/1018#ixzz1XDx4yF6r) Good way to grab some potential future buyers, and a way for ZipCar to get its name out there ---
**Author:** ![eraser1998](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@eraser1998](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eraser1998)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708/2 "2011-09-07T14:14:14Z")
It certainly is a smarter method than flooding Avis and Hertz with cars so that people can try them. Why? Because you’re targeting the subsegment of drivers that is viewed as the most valuable - college students, who will soon be buying new cars for themselves for the first time and at the easiest point to grab as a lifetime customer. At Avis and Hertz, you’re just flooding the general population, not your prime customers. Not only that, but the number of cars being put out as rentals is insignificant in terms of the used car market - you won’t be dragging down residual values like you do flooding Hertz and Avis… ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708/3 "2011-09-07T16:38:42Z")
Ford’s other ‘flooded’ market segments ; commercial heavy pickups and police/taxi fleets. ---
**Author:** ![eraser1998](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@eraser1998](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eraser1998)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708/4 "2011-09-07T16:58:59Z")
And commercial heavy pickups and police/taxi don’t really impact resale values - those vehicles only hit the used market when they are seriously used and beat up. I’d argue those are GOOD fleet sales to have. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708/5 "2011-09-07T19:08:34Z")
No, eraser1998, not resale value but it greatly influence the new vehicle purchase opinion. eg; Say I want to buy a work truck…which truck are most workers using ? The resale value of the zipcar fleet wont be affected either BUT the fleet will influence that important market niche when it’s their time to buy. I think it’s a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![eraser1998](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@eraser1998](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eraser1998)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-partners-with-zipcar-for-some-college-campuses/67708/6 "2011-09-07T19:46:02Z")
Ah - sorry, Ken - I thought you were implying that those would be bad fleet sales to have. I believe you make good points…