Enterprise Rent-A-Car Adds VUE Green Line Hybrid to California Fleet
09 January 2007
Enterprise Rent-A-Car plans to add Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid vehicles (earlier post) to its rental line-up for California renters in 2007. Enterprise is growing its alternative-fuel rental fleet, adding a variety of types of alternative fuel vehicles including flex fuel, diesel/biodiesel and hybrid units in select markets across the United States.
The first wave of approximately 160 hybrid Saturn VUE SUVs will be delivered the first part of 2007 to select branch locations in the San Francisco Bay area as well as Los Angeles and Sacramento, with additional deliveries slated throughout next year.
We continually look at the different fuel efficient vehicles and how to best integrate them into our fleet because these vehicles are very attractive to our customers. The Saturn VUE Hybrids deliver 20 percent better fuel economy over the standard VUE engine, and if California renters show continued demand for alternative fuel cars we will add more to our fleet.
—Leonard Almalech, Enterprise Bay Area Vice President and General Manager
On another front, to commemorate its 50th anniversary, the company is underwriting the planting of 50 million trees over the next 50 years at a total cost of $50 million dollars. The Enterprise Rent-A-Car 50 Million Tree Pledge partners with The National Arbor Day Foundation and the US Forest Service in a long-term commitment to help restore public lands that are in need of reforestation.
Does this mean that GM has excess inventory they are trying to liquidate through volume sales to rental fleets?
How long does Enterprise plan to keep these cars in their rental fleet? The time in service of the average rental car is not terribly high, as I recall.
Posted by: NBK-Boston | 09 January 2007 at 05:35 PM
Enterprise is a bit different from other major rental firms. They are privately held and work within the requirements of each local office. This is a good thing, because a lot of their rentals are for people having their cars fixed, so they will be in town trips with lots of stop and go driving.
Posted by: SJC | 09 January 2007 at 07:44 PM
Actually I see this as a good marketing tool. GM and others are putting higher end vehicles in rental fleets to entice buyers. I doubt there dumping them :-)
Posted by: Robert-s | 09 January 2007 at 10:26 PM
Posted by: Robert-s | Jan 10, 2007 1:26:08 AM
Right you are, Robert. I live in California and have rented from Enterprise several times. My first thought when reading this article was that I should go rent a Saturn Vue for a day.
I'm not actually in the market for a car at this time, and I don't expect to be any time soon. Our family owns a 2004 Prius and a 1994 Civic. Renting the Vue would still give me the chance to try it out, without any pressure from a dealership to buy one.
Posted by: John L. | 10 January 2007 at 08:57 AM
That is exactly the companies thinking. They said that they have a tough time getting some Japanese cars in their fleets. But since many renters are having work done on their cars, it is a good chance to test drive something else without obnoxious sales people. So they want diversity in their fleet made up of cars people want to drive. If I were the big 3 I would want this company to have my cars, it might sell many more cars than other methods.
Posted by: SJC | 10 January 2007 at 10:38 AM
This is excellent news! I plan to only rent only hybrids or E-85 vechicles, if I can help it.
Hopefully AVIS and Hertz will notice and follow suit soon.
Posted by: Hydrid+E85 | 10 January 2007 at 03:02 PM
Puts the Vue in the sights of many more people who might not be shopping for a hybrid yet. Good for consumer, Enterprise and by gosh, the nation.
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