Related Article:Global Outlook Panel at ICRS
Brazilian Car Rental Event Hits High Metrics
The two-day conference and exhibits detailed the growth and technological advancements of the nation’s rental car industry.

Exhibitors at the Expo ABLA 2024 on Nov. 27-28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, numbered 70, and attendance numbered 2,000 rental car industry professionals.
Photo: Hiria Marketing for ABLA
The Brazilian car rental association ABLA saw major increases in its number of exhibitors, visitors, and venue space during its 19th annual Expo and conference on Nov. 27-28 in Sao Paulo Brazil.
A breakdown of the figures shows:
Exhibitor growth: From 45 exhibitors in 2023 to more than 70 in 2024.
Visitor attendance: A significant increase from 1,350 attendees in 2023 to 2,000 in 2024.
Venue expansion: Occupying over 86,000 square feet in the São Paulo Expo, up from 64,583 square feet in 2023.
About 45 speakers delivered 15 hours of educational sessions to attendees. Among key industry insights from Expo ABLA 2024:
Market Growth Projections
The Brazilian car rental industry is expected to acquire about 620,000 vehicles in 2024, a 5% growth compared to 590,870 units in 2023.
This represents 25.3% of all light vehicles projected to be sold by automakers in Brazil in 2024 (2,450,000 units).
Fleet Expansion
The sector’s total fleet is projected to grow by 5.1%, reaching 1,650,000 vehicles by the end of 2024, compared to 1,570,820 in 2023.
Growth in Subscription-Based Rentals
The car subscription model is expected to grow by 44%, representing 180,000 vehicles within the broader long-term rental market of 880,000 units in 2024.
Challenges and Advocacy
The ABLA emphasized its efforts to mitigate the impact of potential tax increases due to Brazil’s Tax Reform and to address the complexities of industry overregulation.
The association also highlighted the need for accessible technologies to support rental companies in maintaining their competitive edge.
Looking Ahead
ABLA’s President Marco Aurélio Nazaré highlighted the sector's potential for continued growth as more individuals, businesses, and public entities recognize the benefits of renting over owning vehicles.
Speakers praised the industry’s ongoing professionalization and adoption of innovative technologies as key drivers for its success.
More Rental Operations

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 →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
