Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. announced June 25 that it has opened 15 new U.S. franchise locations and two corporate locations since Jan. 1, 2010.

"We are very pleased with our current expansion efforts, which are expected to augment our organic growth from an improving economy," said Scott Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Dollar Thrifty. "The added franchise locations expand our value brands in a capital efficient way while our new corporate-owned locations represent long-term revenue growth opportunities."

The car rental company's new corporate stores serve two of the top 100 airports in the U.S. They include the re-establishment of the Dollar and Thrifty brands in Des Moines, Iowa, scheduled to open Aug. 1, 2010, and also the addition of the Thrifty brand to the company's existing Dollar corporate location in Minneapolis, Minn.

Dollar Thrifty's franchise expansion includes Dollar Rent A Car openings in Savannah, Ga., Panama City Beach, Fla. and Chattanooga, Tenn., as well as Thrifty Car Rental franchises in Panama City Beach, Fla. and Chattanooga, Tenn. The company franchised its corporate location in Little Rock, Ark., with the licensee operating both the Dollar and Thrifty brands there.

Additionally, Thrifty Car Sales has recently opened a number of dealerships, which provide retail used-vehicles sales and serve the rental needs of the local market. These operations will provide Dollar Thrifty with additional brand exposure and incremental income. These new dealerships include Pasco, Wash., Hollidaysburg, Pa, Coopersburg, Pa., Bowling Green, Ky., Hurricane, W.Va., Lexington, Ky., New Carlisle, Ohio and Pensacola, Fla.

Dollar and Thrifty have over 1,550 corporate and franchised worldwide locations including approximately 600 in the U.S. and Canada.