Avis Budget Group to Acquire France Cars
Avis Budget Group has agreed to purchase France Cars, a privately-held vehicle rental company based in France. The acquisition will add more than 60 locations to Avis Budget’s rental network.

Photo via Wikimedia.

Photo via Wikimedia.
Avis Budget Group Inc. has agreed to purchase France Cars, a privately-held vehicle rental company based in France, to help expand its presence in the French market.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, according to the company.
This purchase will give Avis Budget Group the second-largest light commercial vehicle fleet in France, says the company. The acquisition will add 8,000 cars, vans, and light trucks to Avis Budget’s fleet and will also add more than 60 locations to the company's rental network.
France Cars generates vehicle rental revenues of approximately 60 million euros annually.
"We're excited to announce our agreement to acquire France Cars,” said Mark Servodidio, president, International, Avis Budget Group. “We are committed to strengthening our presence in the local market, and this acquisition will complement our existing operations in the country. France Cars will bring a strong presence in the French local market business and a leading position in the light commercial vehicle segment."
This transaction represents continued execution on Avis Budget's strategy to expand its presence in urban and suburban markets within Europe, according to the company. Last year, the company acquired Italy-based Maggiore Group.
"We are excited by Avis Budget Group's commitment to acquire France Cars and are looking forward to working closely together," said Thierry Jardin, CEO of France Cars.
Closing of the acquisition is subject to consultation with France Cars' employee representatives and customary conditions, including merger control clearance, and is expected to be completed prior to the end of 2016. This acquisition does not affect Avis Budget Group's previously announced intention to repurchase $350 to $400 million of its stock in 2016, according to the company.
More Rental Operations

How Better Cleaning Processes Improve Rental Fleet Efficiency
A consistent approach to vehicle cleaning helps rental operators reduce turnaround delays and return vehicles to service without compromising cleanliness.
Read More →
Clean on Paper: Red Flags in Exotic Car Rental Verification
A suspicious $45,000 Lamborghini booking reveals the strengths and limitations of renter verification, from forged insurance documents to coverage gaps and unauthorized drivers. (Part 2 of 3)
Read More →
Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals
The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.
Read More →
How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
