Richard “Dick” Hemel, Oct. 15, 1943 — Jan. 7, 2024 Photo: Hemel Family / Graphic: Bobit Richard “Dick” Hemel, a longtime rental car operator for Budget and Hertz and an industry association leader, died Jan. 7. He was 80 years old. According to recently published obituaries, Hemel worked for many years in the rental car… Continue reading In Memorium: Dick Hemel, Rental Car Operator and Leader
Author: Auto Rental International Online News
Black Book, Recurrent Enhance EV Values with Deeper Battery Insights
EV batteries are holding up much better than many people expected, but the industry is realizing that the battery condition and resulting expected range are critical variables, said Scott Case, CEO at Recurrent. Photo: Bobit file photo Black Book introduced Jan. 23 the industry’s first electric vehicle (EV) valuations, dubbed Battery Adjusted Values, which incorporate… Continue reading Black Book, Recurrent Enhance EV Values with Deeper Battery Insights
ICRS 2024: How Small Rental Companies Can Boost Profits
Panel topics include buying and funding fleet, maximizing revenues from reservations and fleet management, connecting to OTAs and other marketing opportunities, as well as advice on how to contract insurance, systems software, and other services. Graphic: Bobit Attention small rental companies with 50 or fewer units: this seminar is for you. When you don’t have… Continue reading ICRS 2024: How Small Rental Companies Can Boost Profits
LOR Declines by a Day in Q4 2023 as Rental Vehicle Repair Backlog Eases
Despite regional variations, challenging market conditions remain, and overall LOR stands much higher than it was pre-pandemic. Graphic: Enterprise Rent-A-Car Overall length of rental (LOR) for collision-related rentals in Q4 2023 was 17.7 days, a one-day decline from Q4 2022, according to a report released Jan. 22 by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In Q4 2022, LOR (18.7… Continue reading LOR Declines by a Day in Q4 2023 as Rental Vehicle Repair Backlog Eases
How Rental Car Companies Can Navigate the Maze of Damage Recovery
One major hurdle in damage recovery is the lack of concrete evidence. Without clear documentation of the vehicle’s condition before and after the customer’s use, rental companies often find themselves in a precarious position. Photo: Ravin AI The rental car industry is at a crossroads. Faced with the constant issue of recovering costs from damages… Continue reading How Rental Car Companies Can Navigate the Maze of Damage Recovery
Used Vehicle Supply Closes Out at High Point for 2023
The average used-vehicle listing price was $26,446 at the end of December, up from $26,226 at the end of November but down 3% from a year earlier. Graphic: Cox Automotive Used-vehicle inventory closed 2023 at the highest levels of the year, according to the Cox Automotive analysis of vAuto available inventory data released Jan. 19.… Continue reading Used Vehicle Supply Closes Out at High Point for 2023
Green Motion, U-Save Add Colombia to Growing South American Market
(L to R): Fernando Peris, Mark Tristram-Walmsley, Andres Alzate, Richard Lowden, Augusto Valencia, Brenda Azua, Alexandra Pérez, Juan Jose Valencia. Photo: Green Motion Green Motion and U-Save recently announced the sale of their master country franchise for Colombia that were purchased by Turoll Rent a Car, owned and operated by Juan José Valencia Diaz and… Continue reading Green Motion, U-Save Add Colombia to Growing South American Market
SIXT, Stellantis Form Mega-Deal on Rental Fleet Vehicles
(L to R): SIXT Co-CEO Alexander Sixt, Stellantis COO of Enlarged Europe Uwe Hochgeschurtz, and SIXT Co-CEO Konstantin Sixt celebrate an agreement for the purchase of up to 250,000 Stellantis vehicles, laying the foundation for further global expansion. Photo: SIXT SIXT and Stellantis announced Jan. 16 a multi-billion euro agreement under which SIXT could buy up… Continue reading SIXT, Stellantis Form Mega-Deal on Rental Fleet Vehicles
A Second Impression Smarter Than the First
While car rental and limo are two distinct transportation sectors, both roll metal on the ground 24/7 and provie a vital and valued form of transportation that meets a wide array of traveling needs. Photo: Blacklane A shorter version of this column appears in the 2024 Auto Rental News Fact Book The first time I… Continue reading A Second Impression Smarter Than the First
ACRA Adds Phil Spink to Board
As operations manager, Spink is responsible for several business activities, including hiring, vehicle ordering, damage control, daily rentals, and financial statements. Photo: Phil Spink The American Car Rental Association recently approved Phil Spink of SIXT Rent a Car and Tom Wood Automotive Group to fill the remaining term of board director Eric Rothman, who resigned… Continue reading ACRA Adds Phil Spink to Board