An independent car rental company in Michigan is expanding its operations while other companies are consolidating. Maple City Car Rental in Adrian, Mich. is now open, according to the Daily Telegram.

Jeff Pelham, his brother Craig and their business partner, Bob Evans, opened the business, which will join their Pelham's Auto Sales and Pelham's Affordable Auto Repair in Adrian.

The three partners opened the car rental business to help their overall business, because their car-sales business is slow.

Rentals begin at $30 per day for a small car and go up to $69 per day for pickups and vans. Weekly and monthly rates are also available.

Evans, who manages the operations, possesses the necessary background to run the business. He spent 24 years working at the National Car Rental facility at Mann Buick in Adrian.

The business, which offers a range of vehicles from small cars to minivans, has had good traffic so far. Most of the vehicles are rented most of the time.

They purchase vehicles specifically for the rental business and eventually will sell them through their used-car operation.