30 years of Greenwheels: a drive through

From the very first shared cars in Rotterdam (three to be exact) to becoming the largest car-sharing provider in the Netherlands: a lot has happened over the past three decades! Hop in and drive through the history of Greenwheels and 30 years of car sharing in the Netherlands.

1995

Founded in Rotterdam

University friends Jan Borghuis and Gijs van Lookeren Campagne launched Greenwheels with just three shared cars in Rotterdam on 21 June 1995. They introduced the concept of car sharing as a complement to public transport.

1997

Partnership with NS

Greenwheels partnered with NS, the Dutch national railways, to offer car sharing at train stations. Amsterdam and Utrecht became the second and third cities to offer Greenwheels vehicles.

2001

+8 Greenwheels cities

In just one year, Greenwheels expanded to eight more cities: Leiden, Tilburg, Alkmaar, Schiedam, Delft, Haarlem, Breda and Zwolle. By the end of 2001, there were a total of 17 so-called 'Greenwheels cities'.

2005

At all major train stations

The partnership with NS proves highly successful: by 2005, at least one Greenwheels car was available at every major intercity train station in the Netherlands. The 10-year anniversary was celebrated in style.

2007

Adding estate cars

A larger vehicle option was introduced: by late 2007, customers could not only book the compact Peugeot 107 but also the bigger Peugeot 207 SW. Greenwheels had 'distribution points' in 55 towns and cities: an impressive growth within six years.

2010

1.700 Shared cars

Greenwheels marked its 15th anniversary with a major fleet expansion. By the end of 2010, there were 1,700 Greenwheels cars in 100 cities across the Netherlands.

2011

First electric cars

Greenwheels became the first nationwide car-sharing provider in the Netherlands to trial electric vehicles. However, the initial trial was not a success due to limited range and charging infrastructure at the time.

2012

Acquisition by Pon and VWFS

Greenwheels was acquired by Pon and Volkswagen Financial Services. Founders Jan Borghuis and Gijs van Lookeren Campagne stepped down, with Andrew Berkhout taking over leadership. The first vans were also added to the fleet.

2015

Growth to 2,000 shared cars

Greenwheels reached a milestone of 2,000 cars in the Netherlands, with a presence in 155 cities. In just one year, the number of car-sharing users increased by 18%. By the end of 2015, all Peugeots had been replaced by Volkswagens, including the iconic Up!.

2019

Reintroduction of electric vehicles

In collaboration with NS, Greenwheels reintroduced electric vehicles to its fleet. Unlike in 2011, this time the concept gained traction, especially in urban areas such as the Randstad metropolitan region.

2020

25th anniversary

On 21 September, Greenwheels celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special edition anniversary car. The world’s first 'Shared Car Drive-In Cinema' was also hosted in Rotterdam.

2025

Greenwheels turns 30

The summer of 2025 marks Greenwheels’ 30th anniversary. The fleet now includes 3,000 cars, of which 20% are electric. A new generation of cars is being introduced -in white instead of red – featuring refreshed branding. Greenwheels vehicles can now be found in 200 towns and cities.

We're just getting started!

For 30 years, we have been making streets across the Netherlands more liveable by offering shared cars. After all, one shared car removes up to 14 privately owned cars from the streets, freeing up 300 square metres of space per vehicle. But there is still so much more to achieve! It's why we remain committed to encouraging more people to share cars in the next 30 years. Because car sharers really make a difference.