Barton, Brown Discuss Car Rental on YouTube’s Auto Transport Intel
Bob Barton, president of global mobility for RentalMatics and Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News, shared their views on today’s car rental industry on the YouTube show, archive available.
Participants are encouraged to join the live chat after the conversation.
Bob Barton, president of global mobility for RentalMatics and Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News, appeared on YouTube’s Auto Transport Intel program on Tuesday, July 14.
The program, referred to as "The Car Shipping Business Channel," airs live every Tuesday at 9pm EDT (6pm PDT).
Show creator and host Jay Wertzberger interviewed Barton and Brown on the dynamics of today’s car rental industry — including the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, recent bankruptcies, fleet tectonics, and fluctuations in the used car market — and how they’re affecting the greater automotive markets.
Prior to joining mobility software firm RentalMatics, Barton served as senior vice president of global franchise operations for The Hertz Corporation. Barton’s experience includes serving as president and COO at Franchise Services of North America Inc. and as past president and board member of the American Car Rental Association.
In 2009, Barton received the Russell Bruno Award as Car Rental Executive of the Year.
In addition to Auto Rental News, Brown offers his perspective on fleets, auto rental, and the new mobility ecosystem as executive editor of Business Fleet and Fleet Forward.
Brown produces the International Car Rental Show and the Fleet Forward Conference. Brown is a frequent conference speaker and is relied on as an industry resource by major media outlets such as the Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and National Public Radio.
An archived version of the show is available on the Auto Transport Intel channel.
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 →