LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its ongoing European expansion strategy, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has selected new franchise partners in Poland and the Czech Republic, providing greater choice and mobility to customers across all major airport and city locations in these two European markets. These agreements consolidate the company’s footprint in Central and Eastern Europe, further increasing access for customers.
HT Centrum Group Sp.z.o.o. has been appointed as the franchise partner in Poland. As one of Poland’s most respected automotive groups, it brings over 15 years’ experience in the automotive sector in Eastern Europe through its dealerships and service centre operations, as well as car rental provision.
Czechocar CZ Ltd is the selected franchise partner in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1993 during the country’s transition to a market economy, Czechocar has established itself as a leader in the Czech car rental market.
Both companies have been carefully chosen for their operational excellence and strong commitment to customer service, ensuring that the culture and values of Enterprise’s growing franchise network remain aligned with the company’s founding values.
Enterprise’s growth strategy is aimed at increasing choice, value and service to travellers journeying internationally and within Europe through sustainable, long-term relationships with respected local businesses, and in particular to existing Enterprise customers who value the company’s customer focused ethic.
These latest partnerships will further extend the Enterprise Rent-A-Car network in Europe. This is through a combination of corporately owned locations in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Spain, as well as franchise territories, to bring the brand ever closer to delivering a pan-European rental operation for its customers.
Peter A. Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise, said, “These agreements further cement the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand in Europe and place us in almost every large business and leisure travel market in Europe. This opens the door to a large volume of opportunities for our customers, our employees and our new franchise partners. Once again, in HT Centrum and Czechocar we have identified entrepreneurial businesses that share both our commitment to customer service and a vision to embrace the mobility needs of European travellers. We’re delighted to welcome both companies and countries into the Enterprise family.”
With more than 38 million residents, Poland is the eighth largest economy in the EU and the sixth largest by population. The Polish economy has grown tenfold since 1991 and is increasingly a significant market for inbound business and leisure travellers. The growth in the Polish economy has also seen an increase in outbound travel across all parts of Europe.
“We have seen demand for car hire services grow rapidly in recent years in Poland and we are keen to use our new relationship with Enterprise as a means of driving further growth,” said Tomasz Halat, president of HT Centrum. “We are very pleased to have been chosen as Enterprise’s partner in Poland and as the business that will be delivering the company’s promise and service to customers in our market. We know that together we can build a strong business that builds on our joint legacy of outstanding value and service to customers.”
The Czech Republic hosts manufacturing subsidiaries of more than 1,200 multinational companies and is a major production hub for Europe. Also a popular leisure choice, the Czech Republic attracts more than nine million visitors annually with Prague, the capital city, being consistently rated among Europe’s top tourist destinations.
David Lukeš, general manager of Czechocar CZ Ltd, said, “The Czech Republic continues to attract businesses from across the world to our commercial centres, as well as having a huge appeal as a tourist destination. This relationship with Enterprise is a wonderful example of how we are growing through partnership. It highlights how we can also help companies around the world to extend their boundaries and make the most of the opportunities we have to offer. We are delighted to have been selected to partner with Enterprise.”
About Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is owned and operated by St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings, the largest car rental service provider in the world. The Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand operates wholly-owned operations across the UK, Germany, Ireland, France, Spain, the United States and Canada, with more than 7,000 offices worldwide.
Enterprise also is rapidly expanding operations at airports and transport hubs across the globe through franchise and partnership agreements with independent local providers. This includes the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey, Brazil and China.
Enterprise Holdings also owns and operates the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands in the Americas, and together with its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management, offers a total transportation solution. Combined, Enterprise Holdings and Enterprise Fleet Management – which includes extensive car rental and car sharing services, commercial truck rental, corporate fleet management, and retail car sales – accounted for $15.4 billion in revenue and operated 1.3 million vehicles throughout the world in fiscal 2012.
Operating through its regional subsidiaries, Enterprise Holdings is the largest car rental company in the world as measured by revenue, fleet and employees. Enterprise Holdings’ annual revenues also place it near the top of the travel industry, exceeding all other rental car companies and most airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and online travel agencies. [This news release and other Enterprise Rent-A-Car announcements are available at the Enterprise Holdings press room.]