Avis Highlights Benefits of Connected Vehicles

Avis Budget Group has been working with automakers to complete its goal of a fleet comprised solely of connected vehicles. In March, Avis and Toyota deployed 10,000 connected vehicles and in October, Avis and Ford deployed 35,000.

“Connected cars allow Avis customers to manage their entire rental through our app, including locking and unlocking car doors via smartphone. We see a future in which connected cars will know preferred seat position, car temperature, radio presets and more,” Arthur Orduña, chief innovation officer of Avis Budget Group, said in an August statement. “An example of this is in our Mobility Lab in Kansas City, which aims to enhance travelers’ experiences through our connected cars. If a traveler’s phone shows they are interested in baseball, the customer may receive a push notification recommending the city’s acclaimed Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.”

In April, Avis added 11,000 connected vehicles to its European fleet. The company announced in August that it has reached 100,000 connected vehicles in its global fleet. 

Avis plans on having a fully connected fleet by 2020.