Flinkster History
2001
First Pilot Project in the DB Carsharing Network
The success story began in spring 2001 with the founding of Flinkster, then known as DB Carsharing. In collaboration with its partners teilAuto, StattAuto, Querlenker Düsseldorf, and book-n-drive, DB Carsharing built up a strong network from the outset. The first pilot projects were launched in December 2001 in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main, marking the beginning of a broader expansion.
2002
Launch of the Carsharing Network
In the months following the initial launch, DB Carsharing continuously expanded its locations and added other local providers, including Stadtmobil CarSharing and Ökostadt e.V., to its growing network. At this stage, DB Carsharing did not yet operate its own vehicles.
2003
Opening of the Lufthansa Carpool: The Start of New Partnerships
DB Carsharing celebrated the opening of the Lufthansa Carpool in Hamburg. This was the first corporate carsharing location, though closed to end customers. It marked the beginning of partnerships with major companies such as Bayer, Siemens, and Airbus in the years that followed.
2004
DB Carsharing Takes Off
Two and a half years after its foundation, DB Carsharing was already present in around 65 cities with more than 600 locations. Every day, about 1,000 car bookings were made. This year also saw DB Carsharing introduce its own fleet of vehicles, first in Berlin and Oldenburg, and later in other cities as well.
"Nobody would have believed we would grow this quickly in such a short time." – Team Leader Service Center
2006
Opening of the Carsharing Service Office at Berlin Central Station
In May, the first DB Carsharing service office was opened at Berlin Central Station, marking DB Rent's (now DB Connect) first dedicated sales office. The office was later relocated to Schönhauser Allee in Prenzlauer Berg.
Today, Flinkster customers can easily activate their accounts online or via the app.
2008
A Colorful Sight on Berlin's Streets
During a dynamic period full of new mobility solutions, the City-Express took Berlin by storm with its brightly colored cars and an attractive pricing model. "Flinkster really shook up Berlin," Flinkster employees still proudly proclaim today.
The innovative concept was not only a milestone for the city but also paved the way for many other carsharing companies.
2009
Full Speed Ahead with Electric Vehicles!
In a time of change and innovation, DB Rent laid the foundation for a new era of mobility, focused on developing pioneering solutions. This included the successful integration of the first electric car as part of a pilot project – a significant step towards a sustainable mobility community. The "MINI-E" project was launched mid-year in Berlin and became a trailblazer for the further integration of electric vehicles at Flinkster.
2009
Milestone Reached: 100,000 Flinkster Customers
The 100,000th customer was celebrated. At that time, the carsharing service operated 3,500 vehicles across more than 1,600 stations in over 550 cities and municipalities across Europe.
2009
Flexible Carsharing with "Flinkster – Mein Carsharing"
The pilot project "Flinkster – Mein Carsharing" was launched in March 2009 in Cologne and Stuttgart, bringing carsharing conveniently and affordably right to people’s doorsteps. This innovative concept was later adopted in other cities.
In Munich, a citywide service without fixed parking spots was introduced in 2011 with a fleet of 100 vehicles. The concept of the project was later adapted to the corporate strategy.
2011
10 Years of DB Carsharing and Test Winner
Despite initial skepticism from experts, Flinkster secured a leading market position with over 170,000 customers in Germany. In its tenth anniversary year, Flinkster was awarded the top position in the first "Carsharing Atlas 2011" by the automobile club "Mobil in Deutschland e.V." with an overall score of 2.08. This award highlights the quality of its service, competitive pricing, and nationwide availability.
2012
Test Winner in F.A.S. Carsharing Comparison
The prestigious Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung commissioned www.verkehrsmittelvergleich.de to compare Germany's best carsharing services. Among the ten largest providers, "Flinkster – Mein Carsharing" by DB Rent was ranked first. The service impressed with its nationwide network of 800 rental stations, a variety of vehicle models, and attractive pricing. User-friendliness, vehicle quality, and competitive costs were particularly highlighted.
2012
Expansion of the Electric Fleet
Flinkster continues to focus on e-mobility. An important starting point was the partnership with CITROËN Germany: Multicity established itself as a pioneering carsharing concept in Berlin, exclusively utilizing electric vehicles and a free-floating model.
This initiative was sustained over several years, allowing Flinkster to make a significant contribution to promoting electric mobility and improving urban air quality.
2013
Ford Carsharing – Germany’s First Nationwide Car Manufacturer Carsharing
In collaboration with Ford and the Ford-Händler Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH (FHD), DB Rent GmbH signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement for "Ford Carsharing" the first nationwide car manufacturer carsharing service in Germany. This partnership significantly expanded the mobility offering, allowing customers access to vehicles from both Ford dealerships and Flinkster.
2014
Vehicle Access via App – Simple and Fast
An innovative development arrived: all vehicles can be opened via the app. With this innovation, DB Rent GmbH made accessing Flinkster vehicles easier than ever before. Thanks to the unlock and lock function, the traditional customer card is no longer necessary. Once the booking period begins, a single click is enough to open the vehicle.
2014
Cooperation with Daimler
In 2014/15, DB Connect and Daimler linked their carsharing services, Flinkster and Car2Go, to create the largest network in Germany. Customers could now access over 7,000 vehicles, including 750 electric cars. This enabled Daimler customers to use 3,300 Flinkster vehicles at 1,000 stations across 200 cities and Flinkster users to access 3,550 Car2Go vehicles in six metropolitan areas.
This cooperation combined Flinkster's station-based carsharing with Car2Go's free-floating concept, significantly contributing to smart, interconnected mobility in Germany.
2015
Flinkster is the Carsharing Test Winner at Stiftung Warentest
Flinkster is available at over 2,000 stations across Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. With a fleet of more than 7,000 vehicles, Flinkster offers its users a wide range of mobility solutions.
An award that speaks volumes: Flinkster was named the test winner by Stiftung Warentest among Germany's eleven largest carsharing providers, earning an impressive overall score of 1.7. The consistently positive ratings for booking, driving, and customer service were particularly noteworthy. In 2020, Flinkster secured first place in the test comparison again.
2017
Service King of Carsharing
Flinkster has also earned high customer satisfaction: The company was twice voted the leader by over 300,000 collected opinions. This trust and high level of satisfaction are both a great confirmation and a motivation to continuously improve the service.
2018
Public Corporate Carsharing, E-Mobility, and Climate Protection
The public corporate carsharing service in Herford offers an environmentally friendly mobility option with 18 carsharing vehicles, including five electric cars. These vehicles are available to both residents and Flinkster customers. The district of Herford is setting a strong example for sustainable mobility and leading the way in the region.
In the same year, Flinkster launched the "Prima Klima" project in Rostock, in partnership with WIRO, providing 25 vehicles at five stations in residential areas. This offering promotes individual mobility and contributes to climate protection by using carsharing vehicles.
2020
Staying Mobile – Even in Times of Crises
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Flinkster remained a reliable partner for mobility. Being mobile is essential, even during a crisis, whether for essential professions or for daily needs. Flinkster maintained its carsharing services and implemented special measures to ensure the safety of its customers.
All Flinkster vehicles were regularly and thoroughly cleaned by trained personnel, with special attention to contact surfaces like the steering wheel and radio. This allowed Flinkster to maintain mobility during the pandemic.
2020
New Flinkster Design
Flinkster, Deutsche Bahn’s carsharing fleet, unveiled a new design with a minimalist and modern look. Customers are excited about the new "ICE of the road."
2023
Germany's Best Online Portal
Flinkster was awarded the title of "Germany's Best Online Portal" in the "Travel & Mobility: Carsharing" category. Consumers themselves voted Flinkster into first place! The representative consumer survey involved 52,000 participants. The German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ) and ntv annually honor the winners. Flinkster was awarded again the following year.
2024
Next Chapter for Flinkster: Transition to a New World
A major milestone in Flinkster's development is the transition to a new carsharing system after more than 23 years. Through the partnership with system provider MOQO, many new possibilities are opening up for the Flinkster network. Not only will there be an improved customer experience with a more intuitive app and website, but also quicker integration of new partners into the Flinkster network. This step is essential to continue offering a strong service in the sharing market and to successfully drive the mobility revolution as a leading provider of carsharing.
