Drivalia Pursues Strong Growth in Ireland Market
With a starting focus on operational leasing and fleet management, the company will review opportunities to include subscription products, car sharing, and a shorter-term rental business.

(L to R): Giacomo Carelli, Group CEO of Crédit Agricole Auto Bank Group and Group Chairman of Drivalia; David Wilkinson, CEO of Drivalia Ireland; and Paolo Manfreddi, Group CEO of Drivalia.
Photo: Drivalia
Drivalia, a short and medium-term car rental, car sharing, and mobility company, revealed plans this week to expand its fleet in Ireland by 40% to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2026.
The company, owned by CA Auto Bank Group, will establish a subsidiary, Drivalia Lease Ireland, based in Dublin and led by CEO David Wilkinson. Drivalia has been operating in Ireland since August after it acquired ALD Automotive's operations there.
Drivalia Lease Ireland's offerings will at first focus on operational leasing and fleet management and consolidating its business volumes, which places it as a leader in the Irish market. With backing from CA Auto Bank, Drivalia plans to further strengthen its market position and pursue ambitious growth.
In line with the Group’s European strategy, Drivalia Lease Ireland is also considering subscription products, car sharing, and a shorter-term rental business.
“Our goal is to democratize green mobility, making it accessible to the general public," said Giacomo Carelli, CEO of CA Auto Bank and Chairman of Drivalia, in a news release. "We plan that by 2030, 80% of the new vehicles in our total fleet will be green.”
Drivalia CEO Paolo Manfreddi added, "Our goal is to become one of the leading players in the new mobility sector, with a strong focus on new energy vehicles. To achieve this, we are investing to strengthen our fleet in Europe, which is set to expand to 300,000 vehicles by 2026, with over half of them consisting of electric and PHEV models. Furthermore, our electric infrastructure is projected to encompass 3,500 proprietary charging stations by the same year."
Wilkinson said, "The launch of Drivalia’s solutions in Ireland represents an important step in our pan-European growth strategy. Being part of a banking group with the scale of Crédit Agricole, one of the 10 largest banks in the world, will ensure we can continue to meet future customer needs."
More Rental Operations

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 →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →
