TORRANCE, Calif. – Auto Rental News has selected Robert Muhs, vice president of government affairs for Cendant Car Rental Group, as the recipient of the magazine's 2005 Executive Leadership Award.

The annual award honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the car rental industry and has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

In announcing that Muhs was this year's recipient, Auto Rental News Publisher Sherb Brown cited Muhs' pivotal role in this year's successful effort to pass federal legislation ending vicarious liability for car rental companies. Brown also noted that in Muhs' 11 years in the rental industry, he has played a key role in many legislative efforts benefiting the industry as a whole. These efforts include vehicle license fee recovery legislation and damage waiver law reform. In addition, Muhs is an active figure in the fight against taxes that single out rental customers.

Muhs is a graduate of Nassau Community College, St. John's University and Touro College, and Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. He first joined Avis in 1994.

Brown announced Muhs' selection as this year's award recipient at the magazine's annual Car Rental Show, held in Las Vegas.