Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Responds to Growing Demand for Hybrid Vehicles in California

Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced plans to add Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid vehicles to its vehicle line-up for California renters in 2007. Currently one of the largest providers of alternative fu...

by Staff
January 9, 2007
2 min to read


Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced plans to add Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid vehicles to its vehicle line-up for California renters in 2007.

Currently one of the largest providers of alternative fuel rental vehicles, Enterprise is continuing to grow its fleet by adding a variety of alternative fuel vehicles including flex fuel, hybrid and bio diesel in select markets across the United States.

Ad Loading...

The first wave of approximately 160 hybrid Saturn VUE SUVs will be delivered in the first part of 2007 to select branch locations in the Bay area as well as Los Angeles and Sacramento, with additional deliveries slated throughout next year.

"We continually look at the different fuel efficient vehicles and how to best integrate them into our fleet because these vehicles are very attractive to our customers," said Bay Area Vice President and General Manager Leonard Almalech. "The Saturn VUE Hybrids deliver 20 percent better fuel economy over the standard VUE engine, and if California renters show continued demand for alternative fuel cars we will add more to our fleet."

The introduction of the hybrid vehicles is just one of Enterprise's many environmentally-friendly initiatives. To commemorate Enterprise Rent-A-Car's 50th anniversary, the company is underwriting the planting of 50 million trees over the next 50 years at a total cost of $50 million dollars. The Enterprise Rent-A-Car 50 Million Tree Pledge partners with The National Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service in a long-term commitment to help restore public lands that are in need of reforestation.

California is expected to benefit in particular from the tree plantings because of the onslaught of forest fires in the state each year.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates more than 878,000 rental and fleet services vehicles worldwide and has annual revenues of $9.04 billion. Its California operation, with nearly 800 locations, is the company's largest region and the leader in its market. Last year, Enterprise opened more than 400 new locations, increasing its total locations to more than 7,000 in the nation. The company operates more than 900 offices in Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland. Enterprise is currently number 21 on the Forbes "500 Largest Private Companies in America" list. For more information about Enterprise, visit www.enterprise.com.

More Rental Operations

Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

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 →
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

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 →
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

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 →
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

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 →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

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 →
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

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 Mauritius team

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 →
Ad Loading...
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

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 →
Ad Loading...