Connect by Hertz Signs Fleet Partnership With Fiat

Connect by Hertz, The Hertz Corporation's global car sharing club, formed an exclusive partnership with Fiat to introduce the iconic Alfa Romeo MiTo and add more Fiat 500s to its fleet in the U.K.

Connect by Hertz will be the only car sharing club in the U.K. offering the new Fiat models. Customers can rent a MiTo from just £5 an hour until Sept. 30, 2010. The regular price is £6.95. Customers can also book and drive the Fiat 500 from just £3.95 an hour.

Driving rates include insurance, fuel, maintenance, cleaning, roadside assistance and congestion charges and tax following payment of an annual membership fee of £50. Incorporating the latest technology, the cars are equipped with keyless entry via a smart chip-enabled Connect Card.

 "We are extremely excited to have formed this exclusive alliance with Fiat for our car sharing club offer in the UK. The addition of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and the expansion of our Fiat 500 fleet really demonstrate Connect by Hertz's commitment to transforming the way we travel in the city," said Bob Stuart, senior vice president of global sales at Hertz. "Both cars offer innovative and eco-friendly alternatives while remaining at the height of fashion - a perfect combination for our members."

"The Connect arrangement fits very well into our fleet strategy and is a high-profile, exciting deal," says Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland.

"This gives us a significant retail platform as this is exactly the right audience for our products," adds Paolo Lo Monaco, finance and business development director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland. "It puts the Fiat 500 and Alfa MiTo right where we want them to be - in the hands of young, environmentally-conscious people who are free-thinking about the car they want to drive."