Anytimecar

  This concept allows a Moscow resident or visitor to rent a car at rates that are lower than comparable taxi fares or costs linked to owning a car

   While Moscow remains one of the world's most congested cities and owning a car could cost a fortune, the company AnyTime has introduced the concept of car sharing as a viable alternative to taxies, public transportation and private cars.

   'Car sharing is a relatively young service, but it proved to be successful in some other countries quite a while ago,' says Roman Ilkanayev, head of AnyTime, the only company in Russia that offers car sharing services. 'Mobility, comfort and easy access to services of this kind allow us to create a new lifestyle for Muscovites who value their time and money.'

   This concept allows a Moscow resident or visitor to rent a car at rates that are lower than comparable taxi fares or costs linked to owning a car, as they pay only for the time the car is used, with fuel and insurance included.
    Using the service is very simple. All a customer needs to do is join the AnyTime club. Membership is free of charge, and a customer just needs to have a valid ID, driver's license and a credit card. Then the customer can locate the nearest free car with the use of a mobile application. After using the car, the customer can park it anywhere in the city, as long as parking and traffic regulations are observed.
   The cars offered by AnyTime include Volkswagen Polo, BMW 116i, Chevrolet Cruze and Mercedes A180. The rates are 9.9 rubles per minute, 594 rubles per hour and between 2,900 rubles and 4,500 rubles per day.
    In accordance to a study recently conducted by the global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, about 700,000 people in Europe currently use car sharing, and over the next seven years, this figure is set to reach 15 million.
    At the moment, the Russian capital faces several major problems in the area of traffic and use of vehicles. In accordance with media reports, Moscow ranks among the top 10 cities of the world, in which servicing of a car is the most expensive. The issue of traffic congestion is also acute for the city, which tops the international list of the most congested cities.
    However, the use of the concept of car sharing could also help in solving some major problems that Moscow is currently facing.
    It is estimated that one AnyTime car could replace up to 15 private cars. Add the fact that a shared car could be picked up at any time and in any neighborhood of the city, and the conclusion is obvious: it leads to lowering congestion and improving the environmental situation in the city.
    Car sharing is a solution that could benefit a range of users: from a private individual or company to local authorities, major car manufacturers and the state in general.