Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.

Drivalia Pursues Strong Growth in Ireland Market

(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

2 min to read


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.

Ad Loading...

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

50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Rental Length Declines Slightly in Q1 2026, Enterprise Reports

LOR overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Photo of CEO Krešimir Dobrilović against a gray modernist crooked-tile mural display.

Carwiz Opens Car Rental Service In Panama

A Carwiz partner in Puerto Rico is taking on the Panama franchise with operations in the nation's largest airport.

Read More →
A world map with Flexways logo and new locations headline.

Flexways Opens 10 Locations Among Franchise, Affiliate Rental Networks

The integrated business model combines each operator’s local expertise with international standards to boost sales.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of a suitcase, passport, and smartphone.

Traveler Customer Satisfaction Up This Year Data Study Shows

The study looks at customer analytics to size up performance in car rentals, rideshare, airlines, lodging, and OTAs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...