Car2Go is pulling out of Toronto next week because of new parking regulations.
The car-sharing company's president says it will be impossible to operate in Toronto come June, when a city-run pilot program will forbid the use of almost 10,000 on-street parking spaces where users usually pick up or leave Car2Go vehicles.
In an open letter, Paul DeLong says to call the move a disappointment would be "a huge understatement." He says the company did not want to cease its Toronto operations, but felt it has no other choice.
Car2Go which launched in Toronto in 2016 says it now has 80,000 subscribers in the city.
DeLong also complained about parking permit fees recently passed by council that require companies taking place in a new car-sharing pilot to pay $1,4999.02 per vehicle.
In a statement of his own mayor John Tory says Car2Go has chosen "confrontation over collaboration"
Tory contends that the benefits of car-sharing needed to balanced with concerns in neighbourhoods where "home owners and tenants already have difficulty finding a place to park their own cars".
In light of Car2Go's announcement, councillor Mike Layton moved a motion on the floor of council Thursday asking for city staff to examine whether changes to the pilot would make it more viable. Layton wants staff to report back at council's June 26th meeting.
Another car-sharing outfit, Zipcar, tells NEWSTALK 1010 it "looks forward to continued growth in Toronto".
with files from The Canadian Press