The service is already run in seven locations (Berlin, Munich, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Vienna and San Francisco) and will now launch across three London boroughs Islington, Hackney and Haringey from today (5^th December) with other boroughs set to be added in 2015.

The scheme will initially provide a fleet of 210 BMW 1 Series and MINIs, which will be increased up to 300 in 2015 with 30 BMW i3s also due to arrive in the spring.

Drivers will need to make a one-time registration fee of £29 and can then use the DriveNow App (available on iOS and Android devices) to locate and open their nearest car, or they simply use their customer card to unlock and activate a car they’ve seen on the street. Cars have no fixed bay to return to, and can be dropped for free anywhere across the boroughs, opening up one-way trips.

Charges are 39p a minute with an hourly cap of £20 to drive a DriveNow car, or from as s 32p with DriveNow savings packages.

The move comes some six months after Daimler and Europcar joint venture car2go announced it is withdrawing its car sharing scheme from the UK.

Alexander Sixt, managing director at Sixt, said: ‘We believe location and flexible car sharing services are the future for busy global capitals. Over half a DriveNow journeys are enjoyed every month around the world which speaks volumes for the potential of our pioneering service in London.’