Unique student carsharing project is expanding its fleet in the Czech Republic

The Uniqway car sharing service has announced a major expansion of its fleet, which coincides with the extension of the vehicle sharing service in the town of Mladá Boleslav, the home of ŠKODA AUTO. In addition to 15 new vehicles for use by Prague’s large student population, five new vehicles have been assigned to Mladá Boleslav, where they will serve students, staff and interns at the ŠKODA AUTO University. 

While car sharing has been attracting devotees in recent years, due its cost effectiveness, convenience, and low environmental impact, the Uniqway project is unique amongst car sharing services, as it is specifically designed for and operated by students. The project is the result of a collaboration between the Czech Technical University (CTU), the University of Economics in Prague (VŠE), the University of Life Sciences (CZU), ŠKODA AUTO and ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab.

Now in its third year, the project is an excellent example of interdisciplinary collaboration: CTU students invented the technical concept and design of the service, VŠE students manage the marketing strategy, CZU students oversee the operation of the service, and ŠKODA AUTO University students help with promotion and operation in Mladá Boleslav. 

The move was welcomed by the rector of the ŠKODA AUTO University in, Pavel Mertlík, who said that the arrival of the service would make the university in Mladá Boleslav even more attractive for students. “I think that it is very important that our students are part of Uniqway and take care of the platform,” he said. “Our students welcome this initiative and look forward to the possibility of using the cars and the experience that they will gain from organizing the operation of the fleet.”

The majority of the 38 vehicle fleet comprises of the popular ŠKODA Fabia hatchback, which is augmented by six larger ŠKODA Scala models. There are also several electric vehicles available, including the nippy ŠKODA CitigoE iV and the large all-electric SUV, ŠKODA ENYAQ iV, allowing many students to have their first experience of driving an electric car.

The vehicles can be borrowed and returned at all universities and their dormitories, as well as other service zones throughout Prague, Mladá Boleslav and Kladno. The service is open to registered students of all Czech universities, as well as academic staff.

Registration can be done online in just a few minutes. As the service is designed for students, there is no registration or monthly membership fee. Once registered and verified, students can view the locations of nearby vehicles. Once reserved, the student can pick up the car, using a combination of the Uniqway app and by placing their student card to a reader behind the windshield.

The service can also be used for longer trips, including trips abroad, and each vehicle has a Czech highway permit. Uniqway users can borrow a bike rack, a roofbox, and a refueling card that can be used in all Schengen countries. Each vehicle also has a price ceiling – a maximum daily charge – starting at 490 czk for 24-hour hire of a ŠKODA Fabia.