Kettering University launched a new partnership with Zipcar, Inc., the world’s leading car sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car sharing program on campus. The convenient transportation option is now available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older.

Kettering will initially offer two vehicles, including Ford Focus Sedan and Hatchback models, which will be located in parking lot three, near the southeast corner of Thompson Hall, facing the Mott Building. Zipcars are available on-demand and can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This year, Kettering University members can join for $25, with rates on campus Zipcar vehicles starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Kettering University students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/kettering.

"We are very pleased that Kettering University will be home of the fifth Zipcar location in Michigan," said Kettering University President Robert K. McMahan. "Zipcars are a staple on college campuses across the country, and Zipcar coming to Flint is yet another example of our community’s continuing rebirth as a college town. Our students will now have the ability to take off-campus trips without having to keep a car on campus, and we will also be encouraging university departments to consider using Zipcars to attend off-site meetings and events. All in all, we are excited to be able to offer our students, faculty and staff this innovative, affordable and flexible transportation option on our campus."

Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, may download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar’s website.

“We are happy to welcome Kettering University to the group of over 300 universities that have Zipcar on campus” said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University. “Together with Kettering, we're enabling this next generation of drivers to experience a new generation of cars and transportation in a way that is both convenient and cost-effective, not to mention fun.”

With the new Zipcar program available on campus, student organizations at Kettering University also now have the opportunity to participate in the “Students with Drive” grant program sponsored by Zipcar and Ford Motor Company, which provides students with free Zipcar memberships and driving credits to support student organizations on campus.

Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar will provide $300,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program is running now through April 2014 and will culminate with one student organization being awarded a grand prize of $5,000 in Zipcar credits, $10,000 in cash for the student organization to put toward its cause and $10,000 in cash to be awarded to the winning school. For more information and to participate in the program, students can visit the “Students with Drive” tab on Zipcar’s University Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ZipcarU.

Zipcar has established partnerships with more than 300 universities across North America. For more information and how to become a member of Zipcar at Kettering University, please visit www.zipcar.com/kettering. Additional information and promotions can also being found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.