Lidl Ireland expands GoCar rentals to 50 stores
Lidl Ireland has teamed up with GoCar to introduce 100 pay-as-you-go cars nationwide, enhancing convenience for shoppers with easy access to reliable transport for their weekly shopping
Print4 June 2024
Lidl Ireland has expanded its partnership with Ireland’s largest car and van sharing service GoCar, to install a fleet of 100 pay-as-you-go (PAYG) cars to rent across 50 Lidl stores throughout Ireland, offering shoppers access to convenient and reliable transport to make the weekly shop that much easier.
In the last year, more than 6,000 Lidl customers have availed of the GoCar service at Lidl stores across Ireland, with Dublin’s East Wall, Shankill and Tallaght stores clocking the highest number of monthly trips.
Initial trial
Lidl Ireland partnered with GoCar in December 2022 to conduct an initial trial which saw 20 cars placed across 10 Lidl stores over a three-month period. Following the successful trial, Lidl Ireland accelerated its partnership with GoCar to deliver a fleet of 100 vehicles across 50 of its Irish stores.
With two GoCars installed at each participating Lidl store, shoppers across 20 counties can benefit from the service including Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow.
The strategic partnership between Lidl and GoCar was designed to provide Lidl shoppers with additional store services to support accessibility. The latest initiative complements the retailer’s existing service offering which already sees OOHPod parcel lockers in place at Lidl Ireland stores which offers shoppers the convenience of picking up their online purchases at the same time as their weekly shop.
Other investments
Lidl Ireland also invested €50 million into installing two Reverse Vending Machines per store to facilitate return of containers eligible as part of the government’s Deposit Return Scheme.
The new GoCar service also opens up local access to low cost, contract-free pay-as-you-go vehicle rental for wider community benefit, particularly for areas where car ownership is low.
From day trips with family or friends to lightening the load of the weekly Lidl shop, to transporting bulky items bought from Lidl’s middle-aisle, zipping to meetings or simply having an extra set of wheels for a busy family, GoCar vans and cars can fit consumers lifestyles without the commitment.
Avril O’ Hehir, chief administration officer, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Through our expanded new fleet of 100 vehicles across 50 stores in Ireland, even more customers can benefit from the simplicity of our ‘shop and go’ offering, making the big weekly shop or a quick dash for essentials even easier.”
Car-sharing
Established in 2008, GoCar has been a prominent contributor to Ireland’s car-sharing landscape, with a fleet of over 1,100 vehicles nationwide, launched with the aim of providing members with the freedom of car ownership without the hassle.
GoCar customers can download the GoCar app, sign up and reserve cars or vans nationwide. Once booked, customers simply locate and unlock the car using the app and return the car to the same location once their trip has ended.
Joe Quirke, head, GoCar Ireland, said: “Since the beginning of our partnership with Lidl, we have seen a significant rise in demand for car sharing among consumers, particularly in the current economic climate where people are re-evaluating their individual transport requirements and the benefits of car sharing better suit people’s lives.
“With more flexibility, lower cost and no long-term financial commitment, more people are making the switch to pay-as-you-go driving. Younger people are also switching on to the service and we’re seeing significant uptake in highly populated areas with low car ownership.”
To register for the service or find more information, please visit www.gocar.ie
Read more: Lidl Ireland raises record €3m for Jigsaw Charity
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