Related: Toyota Reveals New Mobility Alliance, Concept Vehicle
Avis, Toyota to Deploy 10K Connected Vehicles
Connected Toyota vehicles are expected to be available in September as 2019 vehicle models are introduced into the fleet.

Photo via iStockPhoto/Karneg.

Photo via iStockPhoto/Karneg.
Avis Budget Group announced a multi-year deal that will add 10,000 Toyota vehicles to Avis Car Rental's expanding fleet of connected vehicles.
The services provided through Toyota's MSPF will benefit both Avis customers — through an enhanced and more personalized experience — and the company through improved informatics, fleet management, and operational efficiency.
Part of Avis' commitment to reinventing the car rental experience is ensuring a seamless line of communication from the connected fleet to the Avis mobile app, where travelers can access important information about their rental, change or upgrade their vehicle, locate their vehicle, and more. Since the Avis mobile app's transformative launch in July 2016, usage has grown to over one million transactions from more than 350,000 unique customers, and has increased customer satisfaction ratings by 20%.
Avis Budget Group has committed to operating a fully connected global fleet by 2020, and will have 100,000 fully connected cars in the United States this year.
As part of this effort, earlier this month, Avis Budget Group commenced installations of 50,000 Unified Telematics Platform devices, provided by I.D. Systems, more than doubling Avis Car Rental's existing fleet of connected vehicles.
Connected Toyota vehicles are expected to be available in September as 2019 vehicle models are introduced into the fleet.
More Rental Operations
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 →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
