Car manufacturers have fingers crossed for bumper sales from car hire industry in 2010
Car makers off to flying start in 2010 with orders from vehicle rental companies
Car manufacturers are hoping that 2010 will be a turnaround year. Having suffered plummeting sales figures in previous 12 months, things finally seem to be looking up for the industry, and the car hire market is playing a big role in it.
Car rental firms were very reluctant to put their hands in their pockets last year to fork out for new vehicles, and this had a serious affect on the manufacturers. One of their biggest markets, simply wasn’t buying. Some smaller car ire firms failed to get the financial backing from the bank which prevented them from investing in a new fleet, whereas those companies which were struggling to stay afloat, started selling off vehicles to help raise funds.
The car hire companies which had to shed cars during the difficulties, and have now come through the other side, will be looking to boost their fleet back up to its previous size, which is music to the ears of the manufacturers.
The decline in the number of car hire vehicles available last year did cause major problems especially during the peak holiday season. Several cases reported tourists in European destination being left without any transport whatsoever, and those that did find a car available, were charged a premium rate and a massive hike in hire prices was noted.
Ford and Chrysler car manufacturers in the US have both reported an encouraging start to 2010 having taken a number of big orders. Both saw a significant drop in sales last year, but it seems the tide is finally turning and the industry is looking forward to a successful year.
Limo Broker announce cheap limo hire rates for 2010
Limo Broker introduces ultra low rates on limo hire for the new year
One of the leading limo hire providers in the UK, Limo Broker, have announced all time low prices to kick start 2010. The limo giant have slashed rates across their whole range of vehicles so there’s never been a better time to pick up a bargain limo ride for your special occasion this year.
With a massive selection of chauffeur driven limousines to choose from you’re bound to find something to suit your occasion perfectly. From top of the range Hummer limos with the capacity to carry 18 passengers, to exquisite wedding cars like the open-top Beauford, and exclusive vehicles such as the Ferrari limo, you won’t find a more comprehensive and exciting fleet anywhere else in the country.
As a nationwide operator, Limo Broker can provide you with a limo hire regardless of where you are based in the UK. From London to Edinburgh, Cardiff to Belfast and Swindon to Birmingham, no destination is out of bound when you make a booking with Limo Broker.
These ultra low limo hire rates won’t hang around for long so if you need a wedding car for you big day this summer, or a novelty limo to surprise your best mate on her birthday, or a party bus to celebrate your stag do in style, now is the time to bag a bargain. Call now and receive a rock bottom price for your limo trip courtesy of Limo Broker’s exclusive January sale.
For more details, please visit www.limobroker.co.uk
Car Hire firm offers mobile internet service
Car Hire firm Europcar have just unveiled the latest addition to their services. The new mobile internet website is an attempt to keep up with the changing ways in which customers search for car hire services. Recent figures showed that 8 million of us in the U.K access the internet from our mobiles, that’s up a massive 42% on last year. With this in mind, Europcar decided to launch the new website to provide a service for those users.
Now those wishing to book car hire can do so on the move with the help of the easy to navigate website designed specifically for use on mobile devices. It makes for a fast and efficient means by which to make car hire enquiries and a convenient option for those with little time to spare.
As well as being able to make bookings for car rental services, the website allows customers to make changes to their reservation including altering pick up times, locations and adding on extras such as sat nav technology and child seats. It will be especially handy for those customers who are already away from home and need to find their closest car hire outlet. By typing in your required location you’ll be able to find a list of car hire bases in the area.
All booking confirmations and other information will be sent directly to your mobile via text or email. As an added incentive, Europcar are offering a 10% for those who book using the mobile service up until the end of November 2009.
Europcar offers 20% reduction on car hire rates
Europcar has revealed its latest money saving scheme just in time for those planning a half-term getaway this October. Hire a vehicle this autumn and you’ll receive 20% off. However the offer isn’t restricted to just cars, you can also take advantage of this generous 20% discount if you are planning to hire a van. So if you’re moving home, or just doing a spot of DIY, you’ll make a great saving by booking your car or van hire through Europcar this autumn.
Europcar offers the widest range of hire vehicles in the U.K., plus they have outlets scattered all over the country so you’re bound to find one locally or in the area you’re planning to visit. So whether you need to transport your entire family or a large group of friends in a spacious people carrier or if you have a romantic break in mind and would like to hire a sporty two seater, you’ll find plenty of choice when you book with this car hire specialist.
reduced rates for car hire
All rental vehicles available from Europcar are recent models and are, on average, just 6 months old. Each and every car or van comes with 24 hour roadside and breakdown assistance which covers you in the event of an emergency or mechanical fault.
In order to benefit from this generous offer all you need to do is book you car hire through the official Europcar website. If you’re on the move you can also make your booking via the company’s brand new mobile service which allows you to locate your nearest outlet and make your booking all on your mobile phone.
Car Hire Company announce special offers
Customers of Budget Rent-a-Car in the U.S will be offered exclusive discounts off their car hire when they book with a neighbourhood outlet. These one-off deals have been designed to offer those looking to take a break this autumn an affordable car hire option.
Budget car hire announce special offers
Selected car hire outlets around the U.S will be offering a 15% off the cost of car hire. Whether you choose to hire a vehicle for a day, a week or a weekend, the low cost offer will still stand. If you do choose to hire a vehicle for a whole week then you can take advantage of the cheap base rates which have just been announced. A mid-range car can now be hired for a week for just $195, a larger vehicle will set you back $205 for the same time period courtesy of the exclusive base rate deal.
These discounts are currently being offered through the neighbourhood locations only. This excludes airport rental centres. One of the company bosses at Avis Budget said the special offers have been designed to provide car hire customers with unbeatable vale for money. In their experience, those searching for car hire are always keen to get their hands on a bargain, which is exactly where the new pricing scheme fits in.
With the autumn holidays fast approaching Budget-Rent-a-Car are hoping to capitalise on those people looking to take a break whilst the children are off school, or those who planning a weekend getaway. The offer will run right up until December 15th and is only available from selected outlets.
Car Hire Company loses 10 more outlets
The Car Hire Company, Dollar Thrifty, has announced the sad news that it intends to close 10 more of its rental outlets before the year is out. The struggling firm has been on a drive to shut down its poorest performing stores in order to cut costs during the economic downturn.
Car hire firm Dollar Thrifty make cut backs
So far Dollar Thrifty has closed a staggering 115 stores across its network. This represents 4% of the company’s revenue in 2008 and equates to 5,500 cars. A leading analyst commended Dollar Thrifty’s strategy saying the cut backs probably saved the car hire company from going bankrupt last year.
The Chief Executive of Dollar Thrifty conceded that the actions taken by his company were somewhat aggressive and extreme, however he believed they had been vital to their survival. He added that he doesn’t expect to have to make any more cuts within the company following the 10 announced losses. Although they have suffered as a result of recession in the same way as other car hire companies have, their ruthless approach to restructuring as enabled them to ride out the storm.
The forthcoming closures have been designed to coincide with the expiry date of the each of the stores’ rental contracts. Despite the massive cut backs, Dollar Thrifty still retains a considerable proportion of business assets with outlets in 700 locations and 6,800 employees.
Swiss Airline renews contract with top Car Hire Company
Swiss International Airline and Europcar are due to extend their working relationship after they announced plans to renew their current contract. Those travelling with the airline will continue to be eligible for a whole range of benefits as detailed in the agreement.
The two organisations have been working in conjunction since 2003. The pair have put their heads together and come up with a joint website which aims to streamline the car hire booking process and make customers aware of the advantages of booking through this system. The new site offers services through a range of different languages including English, German, Italian and French.
Airline renews contract with car hire firm
The people who will benefit most from this extended venture will be the customers. Passengers from the airline will be treated to generous discounts on car hire amongst other benefits. Europcar is currently running an offer until the 15th October whereby Swiss Airline passengers receive a free upgrade on their hire car when they making a booking online at the new website.
Another great service these customers will be offered is free valet parking at the airport, plus reserved parking spaces at terminals including Basel, Geneva and Zurich. Europcar is seeking to take the strain out of the car hire procedure by making as many allowances for these customers as possible.
One of the chefs at Europcar spoke of his enthusiasm for the continued partnership. He explained that the deal will enable them to offer “even more value to travellers” which is major priority for both organisations.
Car Hire Company joins forces with Renault to offer green transport package
One of the leading providers of car hire, Europcar, has revealed it will join forces with Renault in a bid to provide a comprehensive green car hire package. Renault’s new range of electric cars will be incorporated into Europcar’s fleet and the car hire firm has plans to create a network of re-fuelling points for the electric powered vehicles as part of its environmentally friendly car hire strategy.
Car hire company strikes deal with Renault
The two companies will sign the agreement at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. Europcar’s decision to stock Renault’s electric car and provide re-charging services will add another form of revenue to the company. Other car hire companies have attempted to do the same thing with regular cars as they allow customers to return their vehicle empty and charge for the cost of the fuel, this allows them to squeeze more money out of the one transaction.
Another company to spot the earning potential of providing an electric re-charge service for these green cars is McDonalds. The North Carolina restaurant of the fast food chain opened up an electric charging service in July of this year.
With more and more emphasis being out upon reducing our carbon footprint and with the increase in the range of car manufacturers making these green vehicles, Europcar’s move to offer a re-fuelling service is particularly shrewd. It also offers perfect opportunity for cross selling products to its car hire customers meaning they should be able to profit from the venture easy.
Renault plans to put the car into production in 2011 with the first vehicle being available to buy from 2012.
Bad car hire experience for Former Transport Minister Secretary
The former Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, revealed her unfortunate car hire incident this week. The former cabinet minister had a run-in with a branch of Car Hire Company Europcar in France which left her decidedly short changed.
Ruth Kelly hit with unfair car hire charges
Ms. Kelly was left baffled at being unfairly charged over £1,000 for damages to a hire car. Along with her husband Derek and four children aged between 6-12, Ms Kelly embarked on a holiday in Provence, France last month. The family hired a holiday home in the area and a 7 seater Volkswagen Touran to enable them to get around and explore this French district.
However within an hour of collecting the vehicle from the company, both of the front tyres were flat. Ms. Kelly called the Europcar helpline and a taxi was dispatched to take the family to their holiday home, and a replacement car was organised.
After being reassured that they wouldn’t be charged for the inconvenience, Ms Kelly was shocked to discover upon her return to the U.K that she had in fact been billed for £1,180 from the car hire company; the reason stated as being “damages”. To add insult to injury, the mother of four had also been rapped with the cost of a full tank of petrol, despite having returned the hire car back full of fuel.
Following several unfruitful attempts to recoup the losses from her disastrous car hire experience, Ms. Kelly called in the London Evening Standard newspaper to help.
Once the paper stepped in the car hire firm backed down, reimbursing the family with the cost for the damages and even waiving the car hire cost as a “gesture of goodwill.” Europcar apologised for the inconvenience and said the charges were “made in error”.
The best car hire agent revealed
One of the leading lights of the Travel and Tourism industry, Amadeus Cars, has been named the best car hire agent of the moment.They offer sophisticated technology solutions to travel and tourism orientated businesses. The discovery was made after a survey was conducted by ALTEN Ingeneria who specialise in outsourced technology surveying.
Amadeus Cars named best car hire agent
The survey set out to uncover which car hire operator offered the quickest and most efficient booking service. They covered both call centres and website bookings within their research. They found that Amadeus Cars outshone the competition in this category by a significant margin.
The director of Amadeus Cars, Jerome Vanazzi, said the study highlighted the good work the company is doing to support travel agents during this time of economic gloom. By offering a recognised, top quality service Amadeus Cars is able to increase its chances of securing a greater number of car hire customers as the efficiency equates to a faster and cheaper service.
The study went as far as timing an Amadeus car booking against that of a call centre booking and found that on average, Amadeus was 1 minute 47 seconds faster. They then translated this into monetary terms and claimed that a large travel agent using Amadeus car booking services over a year would save an estimated £80,000 due to their faster response time and greater level of productivity.
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