New rental car facility will save customers time at airport
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Construction on the Consolidated Rental Car Facility at the Nashville International Airport is nearing completion.
Construction on the 1.2 million-square foot rental car facility began in March 2010 and will soon be the home to 10 rental car companies and 2,400 vehicles.
Emily Richard is a spokesperson for the airport.
She told Nashville’s News 2 the total cost of the new facility is $70 million and was not funded by tax dollars.
“[The rental car facility] is not funded by any tax dollars that is purely user fees. So if you rent a car, there is a customer user charge that goes back into paying for it.” Richard explained.
Travelers will still continue to rent vehicles inside the terminal before walking through an entry plaza which has access to each of the three levels.
The new car facility is not only convenient for customers, but also for the environment.
By using a quick turn around area, car rental companies will be able to process the vehicles quicker without having to drive to a QTA offsite.
“It will reduce the number of trips by 800,000 miles per year, so that is significant when you look at emissions from rental cars,” Richard explained.
The Nashville airport will also gain an additional 600 covered parking spots once the new facility opens.
CONRAC is scheduled to be complete in November.
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Categories: Other - Cars & Transportation Tags: Advice Tips, Nuances, Stretch Limo
Hey kids, rent a Zipcar Ford Focus cheap, it’s more fun than texting
In a twist on the aut0-industry’s age-old rental-fleet business, Ford Motor says it will sell 1,000 of its redesigned, 2012 Focus compacts to Zipcar for hourly rental fleets at college sites.
That gives Ford access to young potential buyers who might not try a Ford otherwise.
And it lets money-losing Zipcar piggyback onto Ford’s growing reputation as a tech-savvy automaker.
“The technology in the new Fords looks more like an android or iPhone. Ford’s really ahead of the curve,” says Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith. Zipcar members, called “zipsters,” are “early adopters, always on Facebook and other networks, always carrying smartphones — the Ford MyTtouch and Sync technology, they’ll want to test it,” thus boosting Zipcar rentals.
Zipcar has 605,000 members and a worldwide fleet of about 9,000 vehicles, most of them in the U.S. College rentals are about 10% of its business.
Ford and Zipcar are exploiting opposites sides of teens’ and young adults’ ambivalence about, sometimes hostility toward, cars.
“They live their lives as much on the Internet highway as we did on the paved highway,” Griffith says, so they welcome an as-needed car-share operation such as Zipcar.
Even so, “As much as you want to be socially networked, you’ve still got to have groceries. You have to go somewhere to buy your Kraft dinners in bulk,” says Zipcar expert Mary-Beth Kellenberger, global aftermarket research manager at consultant Frost Sullivan.
And that makes it a good deal for Ford.
“This wil put Fords in front of young people, most of whom will never have owned a car before. It’ll be their first experience with a car,” Ford Motor chairman Bill Ford says.
And perhaps not their last experience with Fords: “The number one reason people leave Zipcar is to buy a car,” and that purchase is “heavily influenced by their Zipcar experience,” Ford says.
Zipcar jumps hurdles that prevent automakers from connecting with 18-to-21-year-olds. Many campuses discourage or disallow cars. And teeangers and young adults often can afford neither car payments, nor high-price insurance their age group usually incurs.
Ford is subsidizing the hourly rental rate, making it $7.50 an hour for Fords (including fuel and insurance) instead of Zipcar’s ususal $8.50. And Ford is paying for a $10 discount on yearly Zipcar memberships for the first 100,000 new joiners, bringing that price down to $20 a year.
“It will drive some marketing buzz,” Griffith says. “Students are savvy, they like to go for a deal.”
Griffith says the 1,000 Fords will become about half of Zipcar’s total campus fleet, spread over 250 U.S. colleges. That leaves 20-some rival vehicles scrapping for the other half of college rentals.
Zipcar college rental stations usuallyare on campus, in areas with lots of foot traffic. “The kids walk by and see all these cars; they tend to market themselves,” he says. Members instantly can reserve a car, using smartphone appplications, and can drive away within moments.
You can get more information about Zipcar and membershp here.
Focuses start rolling into the college fleets immediately. Zipcar also is buying a few Ford Escape SUVs for college fleets.
The company, based at Cambridge, Mass., has been traded on the NASDAQ exchange since spring. It reported a loss of $5.6 million the second quarter, compared to a loss of $5.2 million a year earlier. The company’s expansions helped boost revenue 34% to $61.6 million.
Griffith says mature markets are in the black, and “We’ll see overall profitablity for the company in the future.”
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Criminals Use Rental Cars to Escape Identification
After learning that drug dealers, gangsters and prostitutes have been using rental cars to carry out crimes incognito, Councilor Robert Consalvo called for reforms so that Boston Police officers could instantly identify drivers.
Consalvo said at Wednesday’s regular meeting at City Hall that Massachusetts law doesn’t require rental companies to provide the state’s motor vehicle registry with the name of the person who rents a car for 30 days or fewer.
Criminals know this, he said, and use the loophole to stay under the radar of police, who regularly scan the license plates of cars that match the description of those reportedly used for misdeeds.
Even if a witness tells police the brand, model and license plate number of a rented vehicle, Consalvo said, police can only find out from searching the registry the name and location of the rental company. For example, police could discover that the car came from “Hertz Rent-a-Car, Logan Airport,” but not who was driving it at the time of a crime.
Consalvo said that he’s talked about the issue with at least 10 police officers in his district, which includes Hyde Park and Mattapan.
Updating the law to catch criminals
The state law that allows the loophole, Chapter 90, Section 32D, requires only that rental car companies keep a written record of who rents a vehicle and make it available to the public during business hours or upon written request of the police chief.
“Clearly, this is a loophole from when they wrote legislation before the advent of computers,” Consalvo said. “But really, it’s a dangerous loophole. Police need this information so that they can immediately begin to investigate these crimes.”
He said that it would be the responsibility of city and state legislators to update the law to require rental car companies to use the Internet to link the names of all customers to the registry and ensure that the Boston Police department could use the information.
The council delegated the matter to its Committee on Public Safety.
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Advantage Rent-A-Car addition at Portland International Airport sends other …
Budget’s out. National’s in. Car rental companies at Portland International Airport will shuffle locations Thursday, and an additional vendor, Advantage Rent-A-Car, will begin operations.
Airport officials say Budget Rent-A-Car will vacate the PDX parking garage and start shuttling customers to a site about three miles east of the airport.
National Car Rental will move into the Short Term Garage, no longer shuttling customers. Advantage Rent-A-Car will begin operations at PDX and will shuttle customers to a site just off Northeast Airport Way.
Alamo Rent-A-Car will continue to shuttle customers to an off-airport location. But the site will change to one just off Airport Way. The rental car “courtesy shuttle” pick-up area remains the same, on the Arrivals roadway, Island 2, opposite the baggage-claim area.
The reshuffle results from periodic bids for space by car-rental companies, according to the Port of Portland, which operates the airport.
–Richard Read
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Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Accept Payment, Car Online, Going To America, Hire Car, Mastercard
Lee County Airports committee recommends firm for car rental facilities construction work
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The Lee County Airports Special Management Committee ranked JDK General Contractors as the top choice to lead construction work at Southwest Florida International Airport’s car rental facilities at its meeting today.
As national car rental companies have consolidated, the space outfitted for them at Southwest Florida International Airport needs updating to help those agencies consolidate their operations.
The port authority has been working to find a solution that makes operations smoother for rental agencies without interrupting service for customers, and has already top-ranked SchenkelShultz Architecture to lead project design at its July meeting.
The committee opened the floor to four general contractor companies, which included proposals from Manhattan Kraft Construction, Owen Ames Kimball, and AJAX Building Contractors.
It also unanimously recommended adoption of a new policy that outlines compensation for real estate brokers who successfully find tenants for Lee County Port Authority property. The port authority has no existing policy or procedures in place at this time.
Their recommendation comes on the heels of a request from Gulf Coast Technology Center Inc. to terminate its nearly 25-acre ground lease at Southwest Florida International Airport – which the committee supported.
After more than three years and investments close to $2 million in project planning and permitting, construction on the technology and bioscience center on Madden Research Loop never broke ground. Gulf Coast Technology is an affiliate of Denver-based John Madden Co.
Lee County commissioners will make the final decision when they meet as the port authority board on Sept. 12.
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Can Getaround Convince People To Rent Their Cars To Strangers?
You can’t turn a corner in San Francisco without seeing a Zipcar or City CarShare vehicle puttering around. Locals are clearly comfortable with the idea of renting cars by the hour from trusted third-party companies. But what about renting vehicles from neighbors? A number of startups, including RelayRides, Spride, and Getaround, are trying to make it work in the city (California recently passed a bill that allows people to participate in peer-to-peer carsharing without violating their insurance policies). And Getaround, which just launched this year, is growing rapidly.
The company’s founders were part of the first Singularity University class, where they were challenged to come up with an idea that could impact one billion people in 10 years. Their idea was to make use of some of the 250 million cars in the U.S. that sit idle for 22 hours each day.
The process is easy: Renters sign up for an available slot (there is no sign-up fee) and access the vehicle at a designated location using the Getaround iPhone app. Car owners decide how much they want to charge ($6 an hour, for example), and Getaround takes a 40% cut of each transaction. Yelp-like ratings are available on each vehicle page so that renters know what they’re getting into. (A sample rating: “Kari’s car was great! It was fun to drive and
was reliable. I will definitely be renting this car again if I plan a
trip to Tahoe soon. Rent it now!”)
The vehicles cost much less to rent on average than from services like Zipcar, which now charges approximately $10 per hour for many cars in the Bay Area. And according to cofounder Jessica Scorpio, Getaround is much more user-friendly for vehicle owners than competitors. “The big differentiator is that we give owners total control. They decide how much they
want to charge, who they want to share with, and when they want to share. Other
companies basically have you donate your car into their fleet. We feel that benefits the renters, but not the owners.”
RelayRides and Getaround both have insurance policies that cover damages for up to $1 million when vehicles are being used by renters. Getaround’s custom insurance policy comes from Berkshire Hathaway. Owners are responsible for general maintenance of their vehicles, but Getaround offers 24-hour roadside assistance in case of emergency.
So far, the company seems to have found plenty of willing car owners to get involved in the service–a quick search yielded 69 vehicles within three and half miles of my house.
Getaround recently expanded to San Diego, and the startup has ambitions to grow elsewhere in the country as well. “Whoever gets the most signups is where we’ll go next,” says Scorpio. The idea may still sound a bit far-fetched–will people really trust their vehicles with strangers en masse?–but then again, Airbnb seemed just as unlikely when it began, and now people are comfortable with letting total strangers stay in their empty houses. Well, most of the time, anyway.
[Images: Top, Flickr user Bohman; Bottom; Getaround]
Reach Ariel Schwartz via Twitter or email.
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Hertz, GE Join China’s Electric Vehicle Pilot City
Hertz, GE Join China’s Electric Vehicle Pilot City
SHANGHAI, China
, August 30, 2011 (ENS) – To accelerate the pace of electric vehicle adoption in China, the American car rental giant, Hertz, will participate in the China International EV Pilot City in Shanghai. General Electric will install infrastructure to supply electricity to the vehicles.
Earlier this year, Shanghai was selected as the electric vehicle international pilot city by the Chinese government and Jiading district of Shanghai as the EV international demonstration zone, with a goal of increasing public awareness and integration within the industry.
Hertz is the first rental car company to sign an agreement to partner with the China (Shanghai) International Electric Vehicle Pilot City. Current partners include automakers, EV supply chain participants, energy suppliers and insurance companies.
Hertz airport shuttle bus (Photo credit unknown)
To build a market for what will be the first EV rental service in China, Hertz announced Wednesday that the company has formed an alliance with GE Industrial Solutions China to develop a new business model to market EVs in China.
The plan includes the co-location of electric vehicles and GE EV infrastructure, which means the installation of GE charging stations as well as upgrades to the electrical grid and distribution systems.
The two companies will bundle electric vehicle leasing and charging facilities as a solution, which will be offered to multinational companies and government agencies to promote new energy applications. Hertz and GE Industrial Solutions will leverage each other’s services, products and client bases to go to market together as business partners.
Hertz, GE and China International EV Pilot City will collaborate on a multi-layered approach to launch an electric vehicle rental program in Shanghai, starting with the installation of infrastructure across Shanghai’s Jiading district.
Electric vehicles at the Shanghai Auto Show, April 25, 2011 (Photo by Jimmy LWH)
Near the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, with a campus of Shanghai University, a famous 800 year old Confucian temple, canals, gardens and the annual Chinese Grand Prix auto race, Jiading is viewed as ideal for the introduction of electric vehicles.
Jiading District is the only model district and Shanghai is the only model city in China for electric vehicles, according to China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, which is focusing public attention on the industry.
At the Shanghai Automobile Exhibition Center in Anting town, Jiading on September 21 reporters from about 200 auto publications in China will gather with electric vehicle industry experts and officials from the central and district governments for a look at China’s latest electric vehicles.
In addition, Hertz has launched a partnership with BYD, the largest Chinese auto brand, to combine electrical vehicle sales and leasing as a mobility solution for representatives of multinational corporations and government agencies.
Mei Yuan Road in Shanghai’s Jiading district (Photo by Jake Malloy)
“China has committed to rapidly expand electric vehicle travel and Hertz is committed to supporting the important EV Pilot City program,” said Mark Frissora, Hertz chairman and chief executive.
“Working with our existing rental car network in China and partners such as GE, we are dedicated to helping build the necessary EV infrastructure in China and to create a new transportation solution that employs the latest technology and harnesses innovations being launched in China today,” Frissora said.
“GE, as a world-wide leading company is glad to respond to the Chinese government’s call for support of the EV industry,” said Johnny Wang, general manager, Greater China, GE Energy Industrial Solutions.
“Signing this MoU [memorandum of understanding] among us will bring to our integrated EV solutions based on our strengths and advantages in separate areas,” said Wang. “Electric vehicles will be increasingly prioritized in national energy strategies around the world.”
In expanding its EV initiative to China, Hertz becomes the first company to offer electric vehicles for rent on three continents.
Hertz now offers EVs across the United States and in London and other cities in Europe.
“At the Clinton Global Initiative last September, we announced a commitment to provide electric vehicle access on a global scale, an ambitious goal,” commented Frissora. “In less than one year, Hertz is now the leading provider of EV mobility solutions, offering an unparalleled selection of EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in cities worldwide.”
In its first year, the Hertz Global EV initiative has grown from a vision to a market presence in more than 10 cities, offering a diverse fleet of electric vehicles from BYD Auto to Nissan, General Motors, Mitsubishi, Renault and Tesla. Based in New Jersey, Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from more than 8,500 locations in 145 countries worldwide.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2011. All rights reserved.
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Local Enterprise Rent-A-Car Offices Supporting FEMA, Utilities and Other Post …
ST. LOUIS, MO, Aug 30, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
The extensive Enterprise Rent-A-Car neighborhood network has become
an integral part of many cities’ and towns’ local transportation
infrastructure, particularly when natural disasters like Hurricane
Irene hit.
“In times like these, it is imperative for us to quickly move
vehicles around the country and into affected areas,” said Matt
Darrah, executive vice president of North American operations for
Enterprise Holdings, which owns the flagship Enterprise brand as well
as National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car. “Then, once vehicles are
in place, we can help put utility companies, government agencies,
insurance adjusters and CAT (catastrophe) teams on the road so that
they can get the recovery and restoration process under way.”
Roger Dow, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Travel
Association, likewise recognizes the unique role of car rental
service. “Hundreds of towns and cities affected by Hurricane Irene
are getting their homes and businesses back in order thanks to the
cars and trucks made available by America’s local car rental
companies. It’s just another example of how the travel industry pulls
together to normalize travel patterns and helps restore American
communities after disaster strikes.”
For example, Enterprise is renting vehicles — primarily pick-up
trucks — to Public Service Electric and Gas (PSEG) in Newark. In
addition, the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue actually began
working with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car team several days before
Hurricane Irene hit the Eastern Seaboard. Such advance notice enabled
Enterprise to begin planning and relocating trucks and minivans to
facilitate the clean up and repair effort, from North Carolina to New
Jersey.
Meanwhile, many Enterprise managers worked to accommodate last-minute
requests before the storm hit, which reflected the company’s 55-year
focus on local service. “We did everything we could — including
opening closed offices — to assist stranded customers and prepare
for the eventual clean-up,” explained Andy Church, who oversees
Enterprise, National and Alamo in the New York City area. “While such
decisions further complicated our post-Irene planning process, it was
definitely the right thing to do under the circumstances.”
With more than 5,500 branch offices located within 15 miles of the
U.S. population, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand is well known for
offering affordable, accessible and sustainable transportation
options in communities from coast to coast. “We take great pride in
meeting the needs of our customers, day in and day out, right where
they live and work,” Darrah said.
“But it is especially satisfying to play a part in
emergency-preparedness and disaster-recovery efforts, whether they
involve tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., hail storms in Texas, or a
hurricane along the East Coast,” he concluded. “Our resources and
employees enable us to make a real difference in many people’s
lives.”
About Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Founded in 1957 and known for an
extensive network of locations, everyday low rates and outstanding
customer service, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally
recognized brand that has been named to BusinessWeek magazine’s
annual list of “Customer Service Champs” in 2007, 2008, 2009 and
2010. Enterprise also has ranked “Highest in Rental Car Customer
Satisfaction” among North American airport rentals for the last seven
years in a row, according to the 2004-2010 J.D. Power and Associates
Rental Car Satisfaction Studies.
Enterprise operates more than twice as many locations as its nearest
competitor and continues to lead the home-city market, with local car
rental revenues currently experiencing double-digit growth.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates not only as a key provider for
insurance replacement, weekend getaways and special occasions, but
also as a local transportation alternative. For example, many
consumers rely on mass transit during the week or simply cannot
afford to purchase or maintain a vehicle on their own — so they
often depend on local Virtual Car(R) rental service and take
advantage of Enterprise’s “everyday low price,” including popular
weekend rates starting at $9.99 per day (the rate includes 100 free
miles a day).
St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings owns and operates the Enterprise
Rent-A-Car brand. With annual revenues of $12.6 billion and more than
68,000 employees, Enterprise Holdings also operates, through its
regional subsidiaries, more than 1 million cars and trucks, making it
the largest car rental service provider in the world measured by
revenue, employees and fleet. For more information about Enterprise
local and airport car rental as well as vehicle leasing, car sharing
and vanpooling options, visit
www.enterprise.com . For more
information about Enterprise’s environmental stewardship and
long-term commitment to the sustainability of its business, visit
www.DrivingFutures.com and follow @LeeBroughton on Twitter. This news
release and other Enterprise Rent-A-Car announcements are available
at the Enterprise Holdings press room.
For more information, contact:
Laura Bryant
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
314-512-4178
Email Contact
SOURCE: Enterprise Rent-A-Car
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=6BACBD4057DDAA06
Copyright 2011 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.
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