Car-sharing operator Cambio saw its user base increase by 15% last year, from 71,500 in 2024 to 82,000 in 2025. The shared-mobility provider has about 3,000 cars available – including more than 400 electric vehicles – in 147 cities and municipalities across Belgium.
The cambio cars are used intensively, ensuring that cambio users (80% of whom do not own a vehicle) still have a car at their disposal, which would otherwise be parked 95% of the time and take up parking space.
On average, every Cambio car is used daily, for both short and long journeys. For professional trips and recreational purposes. Last year, all users covered more than 72 million kilometers in almost 1.2 million trips in Belgium.
Anywhere in Belgium
Cambio has long been active across the 19 Brussels municipalities, and the car-sharing system is also well-established in Flanders and Wallonia. Today, Cambio users can pick up a car from Cambio almost anywhere in Belgium.
According to the 12,370 respondents who completed the biennial Cambio survey, approximately 60% have a Cambio station within 500 meters of their home. Another 20% live within 1 km of a Cambio station. And considering that 80% of cambio users do not own a car, one can conclude that, for many cambio families, the cambio car serves as ‘the’ family car. The survey also revealed that 44% of cambio users gave up their own car after joining. Another 11% even decided not to repurchase their own vehicle.
Alternative to a privately owned car
The success of the formula demonstrates that car sharing is a credible alternative to private cars. “Each shared car replaces up to thirteen private cars, frees up space on our streets, and contributes to more sustainable mobility,” the company states.
Cambio has been active in the Belgian car-sharing market for over 20 years. The system operates with fixed pick-up points. Using a car instead of owning one is more cost-effective and more sustainable. It is easy because it’s all-inclusive (insurance, inspection, maintenance) and an accessible solution for families and city dwellers.
Belgium and other countries
Car-sharing is relatively popular in Belgium. The main formulas used are Cambio (station-based), Poppy (free-floating), and Miles (free-floating and with flexible price packages). Cambio tends to be the most compelling option for planned trips and longer durations/distances. In Belgium, Poppy and MILES compete mainly on urban spontaneity with free-floating/flexible models.
In the Netherlands, Greenwheels is a comparable station-based leader. In Germany, Flinkster (DB) positions itself as Germany’s largest network and states that about 4,500 vehicles are available via app access.
