Car2Go 2 Go All Benz

Sleek, silver, Benzy

Operating as a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz made it possible for Car2Go, the mobile car-sharing company built on the back of its stodgy fleet of blue and white Smart cars, to introduce a pilot program in February of sleek sedans and SUVs into the Austin market.

Welp, turns out Austinites loved the new look so much that Car2Go is going full Benz with its fleet. The company announced this week that it will retire its existing fleet of more than 300 Smart cars and roll out a new one – made up entirely of Mercedes-Benzes. Car2Go General Manager James Emery credits a number of different factors for the change, including internal polling of its customer base to recognize the existing demand for nicer cars.

“We’ve seen our members even drive the Smarts to the Mercedes because there wasn’t a Mercedes that was close enough,” he said. “These are all tell-tale signs that people really enjoyed the car.”

Car2Go’s new whips will feature a subtle trade dress and faster sign-in computer, as well as the numerous perks that come with the Mercedes brand: rearview cameras, and Bluetooth and hands-free access. Emery said the company hopes to make the full transition by the end of November.