Categories
News Quebec

Your Communauto membership follows you to the South of France!

We’ve got great news for you! We have a good friend in the South…of France! ☀️ 

Their name is Modulauto and, just like us, they believe in making cars more accessible, shared, and sustainable. 

📍 Based in the Occitanie region—from Nîmes to Perpignan—Modulauto operates over 130 carsharing stations throughout the area.

Perfect for exploring the South of France easily and hassle-free.

Like any great story, it started with a spark—and now, we’re inviting you to enjoy the benefits too ❤️ 

Heading to Montpellier or nearby? 

Thanks to our reciprocal membership agreement, you can book Modulauto vehicles using your Communauto subscription. From compact cars to family-sized vehicles, find the right shared car for your trip. 

How to take advantage of it? 

It couldn’t be easier:

  1. Click here to create your Modulauto account > 
  2. During registration, enter the promo code INTERCO 

✔️ No registration fee (normally €25) 

✔️ No monthly fee 

  1. Your Communauto plan applies automatically: 

👉 See all stations in and around Montpellier 


And here’s more good news: it all works just like at home. 

Same app to book, same in-car system—you already know the drill. No need to change your habits.

No surprises: fuel is included, as always. You’ll find a fuel card in every vehicle to refuel if needed.

As you can see, we’re committed to making life easier for you—even (and especially) on vacation ❤️ 

What about the damage protection option? 

You already have a damage fee selected in your Communauto account. Here is a comparison of the options:

To state it another way, if you have the $750/incident damage protection plan here, you would pay 900€ if in an accident while using Modulauto.

If you have waived our insurance (credit card option), this won’t be an option with Modulauto, so you will be enrolled on their default option with a damage fee of 900€.

Everything is ready to make your travels in Montpellier as smooth as possible. Enjoy the service with total peace of mind!

Speaking of INTERCO…

Did you know that as a Communauto user, you can enjoy access to vehicles in other Communauto cities across Canada and even in Paris, France—at no extra cost! 

It’s simple, seamless, and smart travel—wherever you go.
Learn more here >

Categories
News Quebec Quebec

New FLEX Offer to Improve Availability

Do you love the freedom of spontaneous trips with a FLEX car, without the need to plan ahead?

Have you enjoyed the “station zones” we’ve added over the past two years, making more vehicles available in high-demand areas?

Would you like to see these station zones year-round, even during the winter?

The increase in demand forces us to be creative and to think outside the box!

INTRODUCING RETURN FLEX
As our service continues to grow, we’ve had to get creative to meet the demand all year round. One challenge we face is that reservation vehicles can’t stay on the streets during winter due to parking restrictions and snow removal operations. This often leads to fewer available vehicles in high-demand areas during the cold season.

The solution? Convert them into vehicles without reservation while keeping them associated with the station zone they belonged to during the summer.

This delightful mix will give rise to Return FLEX!

PILOT PROJECT
This new version of our service will be tested soon (in the next few weeks) as a pilot project.

If everything goes as planned, we will have two types of FLEX:
• One-way FLEX: the option you already know.
• Return FLEX: the new option available in station zones
You can continue to use One-way FLEX vehicles for trips from A to B: You can start your trip in one part of the main FLEX zone and release it in a different area within the main FLEX zone (see article 1.1.8 of the Rules and Regulations). You can use the new Return FLEX option for return trips, where you start and end in the same station zone.

A new icon in the app will distinguish Return FLEX from the regular One-way FLEX:

To avoid any confusion, a message will appear in the app when you block a Return FLEX to remind you that this vehicle must be returned within the limits of its station zone at the end of the trip.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR VALUE!
Our goal is to maintain a larger supply of vehicles in areas where we created station zones, so:
Return FLEX vehicles will be priced at the same rates as station-based vehicles available by reservation.
But since the Return FLEX vehicles will still be FLEX vehicles:
• You will continue to benefit from FLEX rates if they give a better price for your trip (possible for trips that are short, even an hour or two, but high in kilometres).
• FLEX passes remain compatible with Return FLEX vehicles.
• These vehicles will also be eligible for the credits offered during snow removal. But we will discuss that when the time comes…
The best of both worlds, right?


STARTING SMALL
Since this is a brand-new side of our service, we know it will take time for our members and our own team to get accustomed to it.
To start with, only a few vehicles will be assigned to this new service. We are aiming for December. If the pilot project proves successful, more vehicles will be added.

More updates will follow!

Categories
Press Release Quebec

Communauto surpasses the milestone of 60 vehicles in Gatineau: more carsharing to simplify mobility for residents

Gatineau, November 14, 2024Communauto, in collaboration with the City of Gatineau and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), reaches an important turning point in the development of sustainable mobility, with the addition of 12 new carshare vehicles. With this expansion, there are now 61 cars available across the region, distributed among 44 stations, meeting the growing demand from residents for practical and sustainable transportation alternatives. The Cégep de l’Outaouais and the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) are joining this partnership by providing parking spaces for shared cars. 

An impactful partnership and new strategic locations 

Seven new stations in different neighbourhoods will enhance the existing network: 

  • Centre communautaire des Hautes-Plaines (1 vehicle) 
  • Woods Park (1 vehicle) 
  • Parc-o-bus des Allumettières (1 vehicle) 
  • Parc-o-bus Rivermead (2 vehicles) 
  • Cégep de l’Outaouais, campus Gabrielle-Roy (1 vehicle) 
  • Centre d’exposition L’Imagier (1 vehicle) 
  • Secteur Le Plateau (1 vehicle – coming soon) 

Furthermore, four stations already in operation are increasing their capacity with the addition of extra spots: 

  • Eddy et Hôtel-de-Ville  
  • Théâtre de L’Ile 
  • Centre communautaire Tétreau 
  • Taché et l’Université (UQO) 

A significant step for urban mobility and local development. 

This expansion enhances the convenience and flexibility of travel for residents. 

“Thanks to the support of the City of Gatineau and the STO, the addition of 12 new vehicles is another step towards smoother, more sustainable, and more accessible urban mobility for all Gatineau residents. The existing stations, which are receiving additional vehicles, are in high-density areas. The new sites help serve neighbourhoods that were previously under-served, thereby expanding access to this mode of transportation”, emphasizes Marco Viviani, Vice President, Strategic Development at Communauto

“We are proud to announce the addition of a Communauto service point at Cégep de l’Outaouais, an initiative that aligns perfectly with the objectives of our Plan d’action pluriannuel d’écologisation du Cégep de l’Outaouais (PAPECO). This project supports our commitment to promoting sustainable mobility, reducing the carbon footprint of our community, and providing accessible and practical transportation solutions. By facilitating access to shared vehicles, we offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative that meets the needs of the community while contributing to a greener and more responsible future,” said Steve Brabant, Executive Director. 

An enhanced commitment to sustainable mobility

The expansion of the service in Gatineau is part of a broader strategy to promote alternatives to individual car use, complementing public transportation and cycling initiatives. By supporting carsharing, a service already popular with many Gatineau residents, the City of Gatineau and the STO are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing a practical and cost-effective option for daily and occasional travel.

“The City of Gatineau is proud to partner with Communauto for the arrival of new cars in various areas of the city. This partnership helps reduce our ecological footprint and improve the quality of our living environments. It is part of our commitment to sustainable mobility: by offering even more accessible carsharing options, we are making daily travel more sustainable and affordable for residents,” said Catherine Craig-St-Louis, President of the Commission sur les transports, les déplacements durables et la sécurité. 

“The STO is proud to add parking spaces in its parc-o-bus lots as part of its partnership with Communauto,” added Jocelyn Blondin, President of the Société de transport de l’Outaouais.

About Communauto

Founded in Quebec City in 1994, Communauto is the largest carsharing service in Canada and the oldest in North America. Present on two continents and in 19 cities, including Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, and Paris, it offers round-trip and free-floating one-way services. With nearly 7,000 cars in its fleet, Communauto has the largest fleet of shared electric vehicles in Canada and one of the largest in North America. As a company with social, environmental, and urban objectives, its mission is to reduce the impact of cars on cities while improving access to mobility by offering an alternative to private car ownership. 

To learn more about carsharing in Gatineau, visit gatineau.communauto.com

Press contact:

Communauto 
Charlotte Poirier Stephens
Communication and marketing coordinator 
drp@communauto.ca 

Ville de Gatineau 
Marie-Hélène Rivard 
Communication services director 
819 595-7171 / medias@gatineau.ca  

Société de transport de l’Outaouais 
Yannick Boursier 
Public relations 
819 770-7900 #6450 / yannick.boursier@sto.ca