Johannesburg 6 June 2013 Europcar South Africa is looking forward to giving North American Advantage customers a proudly South African welcome following the announcement of the companies' new strategic geographical partnership, says Dawn Nathan-Jones, Europcar SA CEO.

 

This follows the international announcement in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, of the agreement between Europcar, the leading brand in mobility in Europe with a wide international network, and Franchise Services of North America Inc., operating Advantage® in the USA, to partner in jointly serving their customers.

 

Nathan-Jones said: "This further enhances Europcar SA's continually evolving service offering."

 

The new partnership will strengthen Europcar® strategic development in a fast moving environment. It will fully complement Europcar® responsive and innovative mobility solutions for its evolving customers expectations.

 

FSNA, a public company trading on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSXV:FSN) operates Advantage Rent A Car currently from major airport locations in the United States. This new partnership will allow Advantage customers to have a global network open to them providing them with worldwide car rental service.

 

Europcar® customers will be served by Advantage® in the USA and Advantage® customers will be served by Europcar® in the rest of the world, as of 19 August 2013.

 

Roland Keppler, CEO of Europcar group declared: "We are delighted to partner with Advantage and make a strategic move for both our companies. We share the same values and client-oriented attitude. Both our teams are fully committed to deliver excellent customer service and innovative solutions. We will actively cooperate to share best practices, while developing together mobility projects."

 

Tom McDonnell, Chairman and CEO of FSNA added: "This partnership is an extremely exciting opportunity for us. Advantage customers will now be able to reserve and rent cars globally. The transaction will reinvent our brand from the fourth largest car rental company in North America to belonging to a network making us one of the largest car rental companies globally."

 

Both partners are committed to the success of this new promising cooperation.

 

Advantage Rent A Car is the fastest growing brand in the United States. Primarily servicing the leisure segment, its vast network of in-terminal locations makes it an ideal partner to expand into the corporate segment.

 

Europcar is the leading brand in mobility in Europe. Present in over 130 countries, the company provides customers with one of the largest rental network through its own operators, franchisees and partnership. Europcar group's brand portfolio includes Europcar®, InterRent, its low cost brand, and National and Alamo in the EMEA zone. The group puts customers at the heart of its mission whether it is innovation or service. 

 

 

 

ABOUT EUROPCAR SOUTH AFRICA

 

Europcar has established itself as one of South Africa's leading global car rental companies; one which prides itself on delivering locally relevant, world-class service excellence with a dynamic and fresh attitude. Its payoff line of 'Moving Your Way' encompasses the company's global strategy to be a key player in shaping the future of mobility, together with its commitment to exceptional customer service.

 

The company, owned and managed by the Imperial Group*, has operated exclusively as Europcar since 2009 having a rich 33-year history with its roots as Imperial Car Rental.

 

Voted Africa's Leading Car Hire Company at the 2012 World Travel Awards - for the seventh consecutive year - the company serves around a third of the South African car rental market and has segmented the business to tailor solutions to the business and leisure markets, both inbound and locally.

 

The organisation is just as conscientious when it comes to social responsibility, and supports a number of programmes focusing on children, education, HIV/ Aids and poverty alleviation. Sustainability is also a business imperative and the company focuses heavily on the promotion of environmental responsibility, awareness and behavior throughout its operations, with the primary goal of reducing its outputs.

 

Europcar offers a fleet peaking at 18,500 vehicles at over 120 locations throughout Southern Africa - and through the global Europcar network, offers car rental access to around 220,000 across 150 countries.

 

Holding ISO9001 (2008) accreditation, Europcar holds a Two Three BBBEE rating.  It is a member of the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA), and has partnerships with several important service providers in the travel industry.

 

Then again, that's typical of a Proudly South African company which believes that supporting everything local - from people to businesses - is critical to the future of this country.

 

*IMPERIAL is a diversified industrial services and retail group with activities spanning logistics; car rental; tourism; financial services; vehicle distribution and retail. It operates in South Africa, Africa, Europe and Australia, is listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange and employs over 40,000 people

 

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:

Europcar South AfricaClaire Tyler  Marketing ManagerTel: 011 479 4207

claire.tyler@europcar.co.za

 

ISSUED BY:

Vuma Reputation Management

Lunice Johnston

Account Director

Mobile: 082 824 6384

Lunice@vumareputation.com

 

Phindile Nxumalo

Account manager

Mobile: 071 787 7002

Phindile@vumareputation.com