National Adds 4 MLB Sponsorships
National Car Rental is now the official car rental partner of the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, and Chicago White Sox.

Photo courtesy of National Car Rental.

Photo courtesy of National Car Rental.
National Car Rental has announced four new sponsorship agreements designating National as the official car rental partner of the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, and Chicago White Sox.
These teams join National’s MLB sponsorship portfolio that already includes the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Kansas City Royals.
The new multiyear agreements extend National’s partnership status through the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, according to the company.
“We’re passionate about baseball and are excited to grow our involvement in ‘America’s pastime,’” said Rob Connors, vice president of brand marketing for National. “We are honored to support these fantastic teams as their official car rental partner and look forward to celebrating a great season ahead with their fans.”
As part of its designation with each of the teams, National will have in-stadium signage during home games for the Angels, Astros, Cardinals, Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Royals, and White Sox. The brand has also launched a customized radio campaign in each team’s market entitled “A Control Enthusiast’s Guide to Baseball” featuring the voice of actor Patrick Warburton, according to the company.
In addition, National Car Rental will extend specially priced car rental rates to each team’s club, which includes players, staff, and coaches. Club members will also be given access into National Car Rental’s Emerald Club loyalty program, which offers counter bypass.
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 →
