ROTTERDAM, 4 September 2025 – A new car has appeared on the streets of Rotterdam — and it's more symbolic than it looks. The unveiling of the 300th Greenwheels car in the city marks a turning point in Rotterdam’s long-standing relationship with car sharing.
Image: Councillor Zeegers and Igor Jacobs of Greenwheels next to the milestone car. Credit: Jeroen Zondag.
Greenwheels places its 300th shared car in Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s 300th shared Greenwheels car was presented this week at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge. The vehicle also happens to be the 3,000th Greenwheels car to be introduced in the Netherlands. The milestone was marked in the presence of Rotterdam councillor Chantal Zeegers (Climate, Construction and Housing) and Greenwheels’ Chief Commercial Officer Igor Jacobs.
The commemorative vehicle, a VW ID.3 bearing a distinctive design, will be permanently stationed at the Westersingel in central Rotterdam.
Greenwheels returns to its roots
Greenwheels began its operations thirty years ago in Rotterdam with just three shared cars. Today, the fleet in the city has grown to 300 vehicles, confirming Rotterdam’s position as a major player in car sharing (deelmobiliteit). Councillor Zeegers stated:
“As a city, we are strongly committed to shared mobility; it gets Rotterdammers moving, reduces parking pressure, and keeps all parts of the city accessible and reachable. It also contributes to cleaner air and a healthier city.”
Growth in electric vehicles and user participation
Since 2023, Greenwheels has seen a 30% increase in the number of Rotterdam users. On average, each user trip spans 56 kilometres and lasts around six hours. Vehicles in Rotterdam are booked for about 4.5 hours per day.
Efforts to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) have also made noticeable progress: 232 out of the 300 Greenwheels cars in Rotterdam (around 77%) are now electric, with the remaining 68 running on petrol. Greenwheels CEO Michiel Cuppen referred to the milestone as significant:
“Rotterdam is the birthplace of Greenwheels. It all started here thirty years ago. It remains one of the cities growing the fastest. This 300th car brings us closer to our goal of 4,000 shared cars in the Netherlands by the end of 2026.”
Shared cars free up urban space
According to data from Goudappel (2023), each shared Greenwheels vehicle replaces an average of 14 privately owned cars. This means that the current nationwide fleet of 3,000 cars has removed approximately 39,000 cars from the streets. The total urban space reclaimed is estimated at 900,000 square metres — equivalent to twelve times the size of De Kuip stadium.
This shift not only relieves pressure on public space and infrastructure, but also supports environmental and quality of life goals by reducing emissions and improving urban liveability.
Location of the milestone car
The 300th Greenwheels vehicle in Rotterdam can be found at Westersingel, a central and accessible location near Rotterdam Centraal Station, the Museumpark, and the cultural heart of the city. The surrounding area is well connected by tram, metro and cycling routes.
