Thursday, May 31, 2012

Hertz rental car is still trying to buy DTG

I can’t afford to buy a “green” car but its easy to rent one. Hertz are the first rental company to offer  Volkswagen Jetta TDI® Clean Diesel cars in their rental car fleet. Reserve and Conserve. The Hertz Green Collection offers fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly vehicles. Green Collection vehicles, available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. Green Collection vehicles can be reserved by make and model -- so the car you reserve is the one you get. Not sure if I trust it because they always state that ” Specific makes/models within a car class may vary in availability and features" Hertz has a line of  eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles that are good for the environment. The truth is that even with the government subsidy, electric and Hybrid cars are hard on the wallet, so only wealthy people can afford to buy them (and they only get them as a second car) the myth is that they use clean energy, but the truth is that electricity is produced with dirty coal. In the case of the Aveo;-. fuel economy also largely depends upon the driving skills of each individual.

image              So when I tried to book from the Hertz Green Collection, they offered me a  Chevy Aveo or similar  Compact 2 or 4 dr. for $65 in Los Angeles, CA. one day rental. or a Full Size 4 Dr., FCAR or a Chevrolet Malibu or similar for $75.  The Aveo is an inexpensive car at $15,365 so I would have thought it would rent for less. It has a Fuel economy (MPG): 25 - 27 city / 34 - 35 highway. I would not consider it a “green" car but Hertz does, I suppose it is because it comes with an iStop mechanism that is helpful in minimizing the consumption of fuel in most heavily traffic areas and indirectly helps the car to increase its fuel economy.

As an Elite HERTZ Gold Plus Rewards member, you enjoy privileges and benefits. For a limited time, members can upgrade to #1 Club Gold for free till the end of September 202.! Normally this costs you 10 rentals per year.    Earned with 40 Rentals Annually you get the top level Hertz President's Circle:

  • Guaranteed vehicle availability
  • Guaranteed one-car-class upgrades
  • 25% bonus on Gold Plus Rewards Points
  • 600 Bonus Points after every 15 (qualifying) rentals
  • Special savings with limited blackout dates
  • Includes all Gold benefits

Hertz (HTZ) is nearing its long-cherished goal of buying out rival Dollar Thrifty, after a long run at  pursuing   this goal  through a bidding war with rival Avis Budget (CAR) in what is hoped to be a friendly deal.  As far as the regulatory side of the deal they have worked out the objections to the Advantage unit deal as a potential buyer for Hertz's budget brand. Hertz said earlier this month that it was close to getting antitrust approval - seen as the biggest hurdle to a transaction - having identified a buyer for the assets it needs to divest. They are just waiting for the FTC to make their decision. Hertz has worked with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to get antitrust approval for almost a year. It has agreed to divest its budget brand Advantage, which caters to the same market as Dollar Thrifty. Analysts and shareholders consider U-Save Car & Truck Rental, owned by Franchise Services of North America Inc (FCHAF) a potential alliance, if Dollar Thrifty and Hertz don’t come to a deal. If Hertz delays the offer till next year, Avis could come back into the race.
"We believe that Hertz will be motivated to follow through and negotiate a transaction," said Roy Behren, co-chief investment officer at Westchester Capital Management - Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc's (DTG)

Como socio Hertz #1 Club, usted tendrá acceso a privilegios y beneficios especiales diseñados para que disfrute Ascenso de categoría de auto gratuito y Acceso a descuentos y ofertas especiales

2 comments:

  1. Has anyone rented a Wi-Fi unit from Avis or Hertz, allowing internet use in the car? Hertz matches elite status for Executive Travel. They’ll upgrade up to their Presidents Circle level. I'm thinking that Avis First would be Hertz Five Star and Avis Presidents would be Hertz Presidents. With Executive Elite as Presidents.

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  2. wiFi works well. Dept of Energy gave Fiskers car maker $529 million as a loan they know will never be paid back and they have already given them $193 million USA tax payer dollars but Fisker are going to cancel plans to assemble cars in the United States of A.

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