Hertz Adding 3400 Toyota Priuses To Fleet
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.15.07
The increased demand for green vehicles is spilling over to the rental car counter, where many more drivers will soon be able to choose a hybrid vehicle. Hertz plans to add 3400 Prius hybrid cars to its fleet as customers seek more fuel-efficient vehicles. Hertz will spend $68 million to add the hybrid cars by 2008, the company said today. The first 1000 will be available at U.S. rental sites within the next few weeks. Rental-car companies are offering more fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles amid record gasoline prices and increased concern among consumers about global warming.
Avis said yesterday that it's also adding 1000 Prius cars. Prius sales in May reached a record 24,009, and Toyota has said it expects to sell at least 180,000 this year, or 68 percent more than a year ago.
Photo caption: Hertz Chairman and CEO Mark Frissora poses with a Toyota Prius hybrid car. (Image via Washington Post)
:: Via Bloomberg
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Someone once said the reason that hybrids' popularity as rental cars has increased is because people want to be able to test drive a Prius or other hybrid for longer than a normal car before they decide whether or not to buy. If it is true, can see a promotion with Toyota and Hertz: Take an Extended Test Drive. Rent a Toyota Prius from Hertz, and if you like it enough to want to BUY a Prius, you get the price of your rental applied to the purchase of your Prius. So the "extended test drive" is free for anyone who decided to buy a Prius.
The first thought in my mind after reading the title was: "The 'Big Three' automakers in the US again lose market share because they're protesting the proposed 35mpg fuel-efficiency standard, losing out to foreign companies who realize efficient cars sell."
If US automakers expect to stay competitive, they must realize attitudes are changing; already Toyota has surpassed GM in sales, and the pickup truck has seen a decline in recent months, in terms of units sold.
My car gets great mileage...because I leave it at the curb and walk or bike instead. Last time I filled up (today) gas was a "cheap" $3.13/gallon. Compared to $3.57 in downtown New Haven, CT that's pretty inexpensive for a suburb of the city.
I've had my 07 Prius for about a month now, and I absolutely LOVE it! However, I will say that it took a bit of getting used to as far as driving it; it's different from a "conventional" car in many respects. I hope Hertz and Avis will offer a short "crash course" (no pun intended) driving lesson to their newbie Prius renters. :O)