Home to the 62nd Airlift Wing and the I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) today announced the launch of car-sharing on base as part of Zipcar collaborating with Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). This novel initiative will now bring the benefits of car sharing to the military community, providing easy access to affordable vehicles for personal or professional use without the costs and hassles of owning a vehicle on base. 

“Zipcar is home to in-service and veteran employees, including myself, who understand that transportation is one of the biggest expenses and needs for service members and their families living on or near base, especially those with a permanent change of station (PCS), temporary duty (TDY) or families in need of a first or second vehicle, to name a few,” said Angelo Adams, head of Zipcar. “Zipcar is honored to give the military community on Joint Base Lewis-McChord the freedom to drive wherever they need to go whether it's to visit friends and family, run errands, make appointments or take a road trip to a much-deserved weekend getaway.” 

How to Join, Book and Drive on Joint Base Lewis-McChord 

Reflecting some of the values of the military, six vehicles named Integrity, Loyalty, Respect, Honor, Personal Courage and Freedom will have dedicated parking at three different locations (two locations at Fort Lewis, one location at Fort McCord) with two vehicles at each location. Discounted membership will be available exclusively to Exchange shoppers. Gas, insurance options, dedicated parking, maintenance, roadside service and 180 miles are included in a Zipcar membership. With the cost of car ownership on the rise, Zipcar estimates it saves its average member $1,000 monthly on costs associated with transportation. To join, book and drive, Exchange shoppers must visit https://www.zipcar.com/aafes.  

The Impact of Car-Sharing on Communities like Joint Base Lewis-McChord 

Zipcar was founded not just to do well, but to do good, and is driven by a mission: to enable simple and responsible urban living by reducing personal car ownership. Zipcar is committed to providing members with socially responsible, sustainable alternatives that support the global environment, their communities and city livability. According to Zipcar’s 2023 North American Transportation Survey: 

• Zipcar reduces vehicles on streets. 82% of members do not own a car, 47% of members postponed buying or leasing a car and 26% of members got rid of their car after joining Zipcar, which is equivalent of removing 125K vehicles from the street, the equivalent in size of 10,000 fighter jets! 

• Car-sharing is affordable. Forty-five percent of members have a household income less than $75,000; 76% of members 100K and below say ZIpcar has improved their quality of life, especially since each member saves $1,000 per month on average (vs. owning a car). 

• Car-sharing is environmentally responsible. By reducing car ownership and encouraging sustainable transportation choices, Zipcar helps to reduce climate-warming emissions and protect air, water, and natural environments. Each Zipcar serves 50-90 members and members reduce their carbon footprint by up to 1,600 pounds per year.