May 1, 2007
Zipcar drops XM
Zipcar, a service I use for getting around the city and greater Bay Area (so I don’t have to actually own one of those old-school fossil-fuel-burning car things), announced to its customers today that they’ll no longer provide XM radio in every car. (They claim they bailed on service because of the pending merger, but I don’t buy it.) I hate to say it, but that is such a huge loss for Zipcar customers. One of the best things about Zipcar, believe it or not, is knowing that even though you’re in a crappy rental (with Zipcar logos all over it), at least you’re not listening to top 40 on the terrestrial FM. Boo, Zipcar.
I'm an editor and technology critic in the midst of founding a new web startup: 
They should just put 3.5mm inputs in all their cars. No monthly service charge and you can listen to whatever you want. The corporate radio sucks (satellite, terrestrial, or otherwise).
I’m upset too. I’m going to buy myself an old-school veggie oil car now. It’s bad enough that you feel like Cinderella in a logo-carved pumpkin whenever you rent a Zipcar, but to roll around like that in silence when you don’t get good KPOO reception is too much to bear.
Why would the merger have anything to do with this? I think it is just a way to offer less services and keep the prices exactly the same.
By removing XM they probably increased profits by millions!
Matt
As far as I know, nothing. It’s a diversion, probably a cost-cutting measure, or their contract with XM was up and XM asked for more cash. Either way, it’s very disappointing.
Here is an interesting link where the zipcar people take back their original statement.
http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=198446
This is a bad PR for them
JP
I think I’m such a paranoid driver that I only use the radio for background noise while I drive – I’m so concentrated on driving (I’m WAY scared of causing an accident) that in my Zipcar, I turn the radio to whatever, because I’m not listening to it.
Also, luckily, our Zipcars here in Providence only have the logo on the passenger side door and nowhere else. ;)