DAILY rental company easyCar has announced plans to enter the car club market with up to 12,000 rental vehicles available from unmanned pick-up points by the end of next year.

Its ambitious new venture will allow its hire cars to be unlocked using mobile phones and will follow a trial of the new technology in London. If successful, the low-cost rental company said it plans to expand aggressively nationwide.

Car clubs allow members to reserve a car over the internet and then call on their mobile phone when they arrive at the vehicle. The car is unlocked remotely by easyCar operators using standard mobile technology connected to the central locking system and its immobiliser. The customer can then remove the car keys from the glove box and drive off.

The company said it plans to expand the car club concept across Europe and that it will increase its fleet up to half by the end of 2004.