Avis Q1 Revenues Drop 9%
Avis anticipates revenues about 80% lower in April and May compared to the prior year, with a gradual recovery in June and improving thereafter.

Avis disposed of 35,000 cars in March and cancelled 80% of incoming rental vehicle orders in the United States for the remainder of the year.
Photo via Travelarz/Wikimedia.
Avis Budget Group revenues of $1.8 billion for the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 9% compared to the first quarter last year, the company reported on Monday.
The company reported a net loss of $158 million, adjusted net loss of $103 million, and adjusted EBITDA loss of $87 million.
The beginning and end of the quarter stand in stark contrast: Year-to-date February revenues were up 9% and adjusted EBITDA was up about $60 million. However, the pandemic impacted travel activity and shelter-in-place requirements caused significant deterioration in revenue through March.
Avis disposed of 35,000 cars in March and cancelled 80% of incoming rental vehicle orders in the United States for the remainder of the year. The company has laid off or furloughed 70% of its employees.
“I am incredibly proud of our team,” said Joe Ferraro, Avis Budget Group Interim CEO. “We ended February off to a record start to the year, and in less than a week, we pivoted the entire organization to respond to the unprecedented effects of the pandemic on our business and the economy. Our top priority continues to be the safety of both our employees and our customers. Our front-line employees went above and beyond to assist people in getting home, traveling to care for loved ones or to provide essential services, including first responders and delivery services.”
As of March 31, the company reported available liquidity of $1.6 billion. The company estimates its cash burn for the second quarter 2020 will be approximately $800 million.
Based on current operational assumptions, the company reported it believes it will have adequate liquidity for the balance of 2020 and into 2021.
Avis anticipates revenues being approximately 80% lower in April and May compared to the prior year, with a gradual recovery in June and improving thereafter, as shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted and leisure travel begins to resume.
In markets where shelter-in-place restrictions are being lifted, Avis said it is seeing early indications of improving demand.
More Rental Operations

ACRA Carrying Fuller Industry Load As AI and EVs Lurk In Future
The leading car rental professional business group details an active legislative, regulatory, and macro-trends agenda affecting car rental operators.
Read More →
World Cup Travel Data Shows Longer Car Rentals and More One-Ways
A recent analysis of FIFA bookings found varied demand patterns that influenced rental car pricing.
Read More →
A Leveling Force: AI Morphs Into A Rental Car Profit-Seeker
Revenue managers can’t match the emerging AI tools gobbling lots of data that could counter the competitive race to the rate bottom.
Read More →Stop Losing Money On Rental Tolls
Regardless of your rental fleet size and structure, fleet managers, executives, and owners can gain valuable insights into an often-overlooked area of fleet operations.
Read More →
Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom
Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.
Read More →
DriveItAway, Free2move Plan Shared Fleet Program for Independent Rental Fleet Operators
Vehicles would be placed with participating rental operations to support car renter demand and provide additional fleet capacity.
Read More →
Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk
Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.
Read More →
Green Motion And U-Save Open Rental Operations In Guatemala
The brands will open their first rental car outlets in the country at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Drives $623 Billion+ in Economic Impact as Spending Reaches $538 Billion
The data also underscores the industry’s strong multiplier effect across the U.S. economy, revealing that each dollar invested in business travel in 2024 generated $1.16 in GDP.
Read More →
Rental Fleet Sales Skating Just Above 2025 Levels
The U.S. economy's continued growth and positive business investment are creating a favorable environment for fleet vehicle demand.
Read More →
