Car share firm GoGet will open in Orange with an eight car fleet for residents, tourists and businesses after a successful trial saved the Department of Primary Industries $50,000.
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GoGet head of locations Chris Vanneste said about 200 people had signed up for the service where cars would be available at sites around town and possibly Orange airport.
He said they had just completed a six-month trial in Orange, primarily using DPI staff.
The DPI has now been able to get rid of four cars from its fleet, saving $50,000 in leasing costs, and replace them with GoGet hires.
Mr Vanneste said they were expanding the Orange fleet from six cars to eight vehicles including a van.
“We were really surprised in the uptake of users. We already have 200 residents of Orange signed up which is really exciting,” he said.
Mr Vanneste said the fleet would also be used by tourists.
“We have people catching the train up from Sydney and picking a car up here,” he said.
He said it cost $6-$14 an hour to use GoGet.
“We have members taking it for months at a time, but usually it is about three-four hours,” he said.
Mr Vanneste said they would now talk to Orange City Council about using the business.
Shaun Smith, the Department of Industry’s deputy secretary for corporate service partners, said the pilot project had worked well.
“This trial has been a win-win by providing a more flexible and cost effective fleet alternative for the government while benefiting drivers in the community who don’t own their own vehicle or want to cut down on their car costs,” he said.
We have people catching the train up from Sydney and picking a car up here.
- Chris Vanneste, GoGet
Mr Smith said there were other beneficiaries in Orange.
“It’s also been a win for local fleet servicing and smash repairs businesses as GoGet committed to using their services during the trial. This includes working with disability enterprise Wangarang Industries that provides car cleaning services,” he said.
Orange mayor Reg Kidd said Orange was GoGet’s first regional base in Australia.
“This is the first pilot, we beat Newcastle,” he said.
“This is the way of the future, this is how we will be operating in business.”
During the trial the six cars were based at the DPI offices in Kite Street.
GoGet Business Development Manager Jake Hyde said now they were looking to expand the availability.
“Now we’re looking at putting cars elsewhere in town and also maybe at the airport,” he said.
Mr Hyde said they would now look at Newcastle.
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