Europcar Appoints New CTO
An engineer by training, Damien Basselier has more than 20 years of experience in universes with a strong technological and digital component, whether for start-ups or large international groups such as Vivendi, Cegetel, and Cap Gemini.
Damien Basselier has taken over as Europcar Mobility Group's CTO. He joins the team formed by Caroline Parot, chairman of the executive board, to pursue the Group's digital transformation.
Basselier was previously chief information officer at Smartbox Group in Dublin, where he led the company's digital transformation. He also designed and deployed a harmonized IT/tech framework for all countries and supported the Group's transition to a data-centric, agile culture.
An engineer by training, Basselier has more than 20 years of experience in universes with a strong technological and digital component, whether for start-ups or large international groups such as Vivendi, Cegetel, and Cap Gemini.
This appointment is part of the deployment of the SHIFT 2023 strategic roadmap; presented to the market at the end of June by the Group's management team, it is a roadmap that provides a path for doubling the Group's active customer base to 15 million and a turnover in excess of 4 billion euros.
More Rental Operations
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →
Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
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 →