Avis Acquires Edmonton Budget Licensee
Avis Budget Group Inc. has agreed to acquire its existing Budget Car & Truck Rental licensee in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This licensee has 26 rental locations in seven Canadian cities.
Avis Budget Group Inc. has agreed to acquire its existing Budget Car & Truck Rental licensee in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This licensee has 26 rental locations in seven Canadian cities.
The investment of approximately $30 million (plus the cost of acquired fleet) will enable Avis to expand its number of company-operated locations while gaining a larger share of Canada's domestic, international-inbound and truck rental spend, says the company.
"Expanding our global footprint and enhancing our customer experience are two of our key strategic growth initiatives. Investing in our presence in Edmonton — Alberta's capital, Canada's fifth-largest city and a world center for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries — is consistent with these goals," said Ronald L. Nelson, Avis Budget Group chairman and chief executive officer. "Budget Edmonton has the largest and most diverse fleet in the area and is well-positioned for further growth and prosperity."
Budget has operated in Edmonton since 1963. Starting with a dozen vehicles and one wash bay attendant, Lionel Groberman expanded the business to several locations (including Edmonton, Cold Lake, Lloydminster and Saskatoon) with a fleet of more than 4,000 vehicles. These locations will now be integrated into Avis Budget Group’s North America operating region and managed by the Canada operations management team, says Avis.
"This investment will enable us to substantially expand our Canadian fleet and capture a larger share of this expanding car rental market," said Tom Gartland, president, North America, Avis Budget Group. "In addition, by seizing the opportunity now to increase our presence in this market, we will be able to leverage our licensee's established presence and further enhance Budget brand loyalty and our profitable revenue growth."
Avis Budget Group acquired its Budget licensee in Toronto in 2005, its Budget licensee in Ottawa in 2005, its Budget licensee for Newfoundland and Halifax in 2008 and its Budget licensee in Grand Prairie in 2012, according to the company.
More Rental Operations
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 →
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 →