Avis Budget Drops Bid for Dollar Thrifty
In a regulatory filing today, Avis Budget Group Inc. said it is dropping its bid for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group because of “current market conditions.”
In a regulatory filing today, Avis Budget Group Inc. said it is dropping its bid for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group because of “current market conditions.”
Avis Budget Group’s offer, made in September 2010, consisted of a combination of $45.79 in cash and 0.6543 shares of common stock per Dollar Thrifty share, or approximately $1.5 billion in aggregate based on stock prices at the time.
Since that September 2010 offer, Hertz launched an exchange offer to purchase Dollar Thrifty for a combination of cash and stock for $72.00 per share consisting of $57.60 in cash and 0.8546 shares of Hertz.
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is still in the running to buy the company.
In the regulatory filing, Avis Budget stated, “We have made significant progress toward obtaining U.S. regulatory clearance for the acquisition of DTG, and we believe that such regulatory clearance could be obtained. Nonetheless, we have decided not to pursue a transaction at this time in light of current market conditions.”
Last month Dollar Thrifty sent a letter to both companies asking them to submit “their best and final offers.” Dollar Thrifty had set a deadline of October 10 for both the companies to make their final buyout offers.
More Rental Operations

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 →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
