BUDGET Rent-a-Car has signed a deal with Europcar International to provide car hire for Europcar’s in-bound customers to North America from next month.
The move follows the expiry of Europcar’s partnership agreement with US company Dollar Rent a Car, which has now signed a deal with German company Sixt, another former Budget partner.
Budget chairman and chief executive officer Sandy Miller added: “We are exploring additional joint marketing opportunities to boost revenue and profitability to take advantage of the combined strength of both companies.”
The agreement covers Budget’s 1,000 US and corporate points as well as 400 locations in Canada and is crucial to Europcar which would lose its coverage in the vital North America market where it does not have any of its own locations.
Europcar has over 2,400 rental locations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific through a combination of corporate owned and franchised outlets.
From March 1, Budget will display Europcar signage at its North American locations. Europcar customers will also have a choice of rental vehicles from Budget’s WorldClass fleet which includes convertibles, luxury cars, minivans and environmentally friendly vehicles. Budget also plans to give customers access to Budget’s Fastbreak service in the near future.
A Budget spokesman denied the tie-up with Europcar was the first stage to a merger or takeover by the company. Shares are not changing hands in the deal.