Parking operator Indigo links up with Faxi ride-sharing app

Parking operator Indigo will be partnering with Faxi, a ride-sharing app that enables companies, hospitals, local authorities and other large organisations to preferentially allocate car parking spaces to employees who are proven to have shared their commute.

The Faxi platform allows commuters to offer spare seats in their vehicles to co-workers. This allows both passengers and drivers to save money and typically proves to be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than driving alone or using public transport. 

As part of the partnership, Indigo has also made a £750,000 equity investment in Faxi. Serge Clemente, chief executive of Indigo said: “For many of our clients and customers, workplace parking can be a considerable issue, especially on major campuses or office complexes.

“We believe this partnership is an additional tool to assist our public and corporate clients in their effort to enhance the sustainability of their travel plans. This becomes very relevant in a European and North American context, where Indigo has a strong presence, and particularly in France, where the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act will bring new obligations on companies starting 1 January 2018. This is an opportunity for all corporations to rethink their approach to mobility on a mid to long-term perspective”. 

Tony Lynch, chief executive officer of Faxi, added: “Traffic and pollution continue to worsen across the developed world. Faxi has created a technology that will enable every large organisation to make the policy decision that co-workers who ride-share can receive access to priority and reserved parking. Effective ride-share schemes can substantially increase the utilisation of existing vehicles and, thereby, significantly reduce congestion and parking related issues.”

Lynch told Parking Review: “Indigo manages parking at 16 hospitals in the UK, and we will start by seeing how we can introduce the Faxi platform at those sites.”

Since June, Faxi has been in operation at Northampton County Council's site, with 117 drivers so far signed up to rideshare. The council has allocated 34 spaces to rideshare users and all drivers signed up to Faxi are guaranteed a space. “This is taking 40 cars off the road each day,” said Lynch. “If these rideshare drivers had the capacity, they would be able to pick up 1,353 passengers living within half a mile of their optimal routes. With just these 117 drivers, 74% of all employees could rideshare.”

Meet Tony Lynch and the Faxi team at Smarter Travel LIVE!