Avis is looking to develop car clubs in the UK and Europe as part of its plans to reduce private vehicle ownership and pollution levels.
These clubs will be similar to the Edinburgh model set up by Budget, with cars kept locally to be used at short notice for short-term rentals.
Avis also has a deal, called Smartcar and more, with Micro Compact Car, a joint venture company between Mercedes and Swatch watch manufacturer SMH, to offer owners of MCC’s tiny two-seater Smart car the chance to exchange their vehicle with a larger model from the Avis fleet when they need to, for instance if they are going on holiday. Smart customers get a carnet of vouchers to use at Avis locations when they buy their car.
Hertz has been appointed as the distribution network for Think in Norway, a newly launched electric city car. The company runs a number of liquid petroleum gas-powered cars in France and has electric cars in Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden and in Vienna.
In Italy, France and Holland it operates car club-type schemes. Some £5m has been invested at Frankfurt Airport in a car wash that cleans a returned car in 2.5mins using recycled and rainwater.
Europcar has also added three electric cars to its fleet in January.
The Toyota RAV4 vehicles are on the island as part of an environmental initiative funded by the Jersey Electric Company.
n See Car Rental, page 53