March 22, 2001 (from CeBIT) – Vehicle telecoms solutions developer Drive-IT is pushing a new computerized system for car sharing this week in Hannover, Germany.

Drive-IT said the solution enables vehicles to be used more cost efficiently, and will be targeted at both car clubs and companies with large vehicle fleets throughout Europe.

The system features a Drive-IT terminal connected to the onboard electronics in the vehicle. Information on distances and times driven is then transferred via GSM or GPRS technology to the car pool management computer, providing the basis for invoicing users. Bookings are made via a terminal in the car or on a computer linked to the Internet.

Based on a Windows CE open telematics platform, the system enables operators to equip their vehicles with software for both entertainment and work.

"The rapidly growing number of cars in the larger European cities is creating major problems for traffic flows and the environment," said Magnus Greko, managing director of Drive-IT. "We are convinced our new telematics solutions has the potential to make car sharing an attractive alternative to private car ownership," Greko said Drive-IT intends to market the solution across Europe. Earlier this year, Drive-IT started supplying its telematics solution to the Statoil car club system aimed at the Scandinavian market.