Vauxhall Motors today officially announced its support for a national network of car sharing clubs.

The announcement comes at the first conference of the Community Car Share Network (CCSN), a not-for-profit organisation currently linking 10 car clubs across the country, being hosted by Vauxhall in Luton.

Vauxhall is the single supplier of cars to the clubs, with Corsas and Astras the current favourites. Members of a car share club pay a user-charge to cover the costs of maintenance, insurance and fuel. Cars powered by alternative fuel are becoming popular, with Vauxhall having already delivered the first LPG-powered Astra to the Bristol club – with lower charges for members as a result.

Antonia Roberts, of CCSN, said: “We all recognise the benefits cars play in today's society, but there are alternatives for some of those journeys. By car-sharing a group of people can have access to a car when they need it, without paying for it to sit on their drives. The benefits to the environment are clear.”

For Vauxhall, supporting car-sharing is the latest step in encouraging responsible car use. Nick Reilly, chairman and managing director – who will address the conference – said: “Vauxhall is pleased to be supplying the community car share clubs with a range of Astra and Corsa vehicles. Sustainable transport means thinking responsibly about car use, and we're proud to be taking a leading role in this initiative.”

The conference at The Riverside Suite, Vauxhall Motors, in Luton tomorrow - where delegates will learn from the experiences of car clubs in the UK and Germany - will call for urgent government action to change the way people use their cars, in an effort to reduce global, congestion, and poor air quality.

In a car share scheme a car is hired through a central office using the telephone or internet at any time for as little as an hour. Cars are located at local 'stations' and keys are kept at a nearby safe, or in the car accessed using a smart card. Drivers pay a monthly fee and are billed for hours hired and miles driven.

There is a joining fee of £25, plus a monthly charges of £10 and £100 returnable deposit.

There are also 'pay as you go' fees of £2 an hour plus 15pence per mile (including fuel).

CCSN has supported the development of a number of pilot clubs in cities such as Bristol, Bath and Coventry. CCSN has received support from Shell Better Britain Campaign, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Sainsbury's Family Charitable Trusts as well as Vauxhall.