Related: Hertz Sponsors Innovation Center to Promote Mobility
Hertz Leases SUVs to Apple for Driverless Tests
Apple is leasing a small fleet of vehicles from Donlen, Hertz's fleet management division, to test its self-driving technology.

Photo of 2016 RX450h courtesy of Lexus.

Photo of 2016 RX450h courtesy of Lexus.
Apple is leasing a small fleet of vehicles from Donlen, Hertz's fleet management division, to test its self-driving technology, Bloomberg is reporting.
Apple is leasing Lexus RX450h mid-size luxury SUVs from the fleet management company. When Apple got its license from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test three autonomous vehicles in April, the documents listed Donlen as the lessor and Apple as the lessee.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment and a representative from Hertz didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the report.
Apple has been testing its autonomous technology on vehicles in and around the San Francisco Bay area for at least a year, says the report.
Click here for the full Bloomberg report.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Rental Operations

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
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 →
