With marijuana increasing becoming legal in a variety of ways in many U.S. states, rental car operators can often be left trying to figure out how to get rid of the weed smell left in a vehicle.
"Finding a solution for closed cabin remediation isn’t easy," says Alan Brown, the executive vice president of NuVinAir, a Dallas-based firm that uses patented technology to clean vehicles. "But refusing to search will lead to increasingly disgruntled customers, especially in states where marijuana legalization has been approved."
Marijuana is currently legal for recreational use in 10 states, plus the District of Colombia. Another 33 states have legalized it for medical use.
"The trickle-down effect into the rental car industry will be massive," Brown says.
NuVinAir's products help to attack odor and airborne pollutants by releasing a dry, hygienic vapor through the vehicle's HVAC system. Rather than masking the odor, NuVinAir's Cyclone eliminates them. The product comes in 15- and 7-minute applications.
"With marijuana legalization and usage on the rise, managers at rental agencies are stuck with flipping compromised vehicles on tight turnarounds," Brown adds. "For car rental companies, reconditioning vehicles quickly is the name of the game."
