Europcar and Renault Sign Partnership Agreement in Zero-Emission Mobility

Released on: September 21, 2009, 8:38 am
Author: Europcar
Industry: Automotive

Renault and Europcar, the Renault Group's No.1 short-term rental partner in Europe, has announced an agreement aiming to speed up the implementation of shared innovative solutions as part of Renault's "Zero-Emission" vehicles program. The agreement will be signed at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt on September 16.

Europe's leading car rental company will be implementing innovative solutions as part of the "Renault Alliance electric vehicles" project. With 2,500 rental agencies in Europe, Europcar will roll out the new fleet of Renault electric vehicles, as well as the infrastructure needed to recharge batteries at rental points, starting in 2011.

Renault and Europcar want to offer their customers innovative solutions developed jointly and involving the staff and networks of both partners. Europcar is supporting Renault's "electric vehicles" project by developing specific new short-term car rental services using Renault vehicles adapted to this form of energy.

A clean means of transportation, electric vehicles are increasingly suited to current mobility requirements and short-term rental. According to Renault research, 80% of people in Europe currently travel less than 60 kilometers per day. The two partners aim to make zero-emission vehicles available to as many people as possible, starting in 2011. The electric vehicles will be silent and environmentally friendly, with no carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide or particle emissions.

Commenting on the agreement, Europcar Groupe Chief Executive Officer Salvatore Catania said: "To address the issue of climate change, Europcar wanted to take things further with Renault by optimizing short-term rental solutions suited to electric vehicles. We are proud to have our brand and staff involved in such a large-scale project, which is fully in line with our company's sustainable development strategy and the goals set forth in our Environmental Charter."

"Thanks to our 'Zero-Emission' mobility program, Renault will offer a broad range of zero-emission vehicles starting in 2011. For Renault, electric vehicles with zero carbon dioxide emissions constitute a real answer to current environmental concerns. We are proud that Europcar has chosen Renault as its partner for its future range of electric vehicles," commented Uwe Hochgeschurtz, Director of Renault's Corporate Sales Division.

This partnership reinforces Europcar's strategy of taking a more eco friendly approach with its green car rental activities. The Company has pioneered in this area since opening a pilot rental location for electric vehicles in Paris in 1999.

About Europcar:
Europcar is the European leader in passenger car and light utility vehicle rentals. The company serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Excluding franchise operations, in 2008 Europcar signed more than 10 million rental contracts, with 8,000 employees and a fleet exceeding 225,000 vehicles. In September 2008, Europcar and U.S. market leader Enterprise Rent-A-Car joined forces in a strategic commercial alliance to form the world's largest car rental network, with more than 1.2 million vehicles and 13,000 locations around the world. Europcar is owned by the French investment company Eurazeo.

In addition to being the European market leader, Europcar is leading in its approach to environmental car rental. It opened its first "environmental agency" in Paris in 1999, and in 2008 it was the first company in Europe to have its "Environmental Charter" - which formalizes its commitments in favor of sustainable development - certified by Bureau Veritas. In 2008, Europcar was also the first company ever to win the World Travel Award for "the World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company."

Europcar Media Relations Contacts:
Jean-Christophe Marteaux
Europcar International - Corporate Communications
5-6 Pl. des freres Montgolfier
Guyancourt
F-78280
France
01 30 44 92 83
www.europcar.com