| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 02/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 40 |
| Copyright: Other |
Fleet-footed operators drive vehicle sales
WHEN it comes to buying new cars for the fleet, we start talking big bucks.
The speed with which rental cars are bought and sold is staggering, with an average age of just three-and-a-half months for a National car, and six months for a Budget or Avis vehicle.
National alone buys 50,000 new cars in the UK each year, of which 25,000 are Vauxhalls, 15,000 are Fords and 1,000 are Toyotas, to name but a few. Budget buys 15,000 a year in the UK and a massive 268,000 globally.
Avis Portugal is buying 8,000 new cars this year; last year the whole group bought 270,000 worldwide.
Often the car-rental companies will be the first to get the newest models, which makes them an ideal test-bed for anyone keen to try out the newest models. Hertz, for instance, added the new Ford Explorer to the fleet at the end of last year and has just taken delivery of the 2001 Ford Mondeo in a range of specifications.
National fleet director Stephen Deakin has hit the new car market with a vengeance, coming back with the new Renault Laguna, which will be available from May. From June, renters will be able to try the Peugeot 307, Citroen C5 and X-Type Jaguar in either 2.5 and 3-litre versions.
Testing times: Hertz introduced the Ford Explorer to its fleet last year