San Diego International Airport’s new consolidated Rental Car Center officially opened for business today.

The 2-million-square-foot Rental Car Center houses most of the rental car companies serving the airport, including national brands, as well as local, independent and small business rental car companies, in one central location off Pacific Highway.

Currently, 14 rental car company brands are operating out of the facility, which can accommodate up to 19 brands in total. The facility has room for more than 5,000 cars, according to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

The new facility replaces the group of buildings on Harbor Drive that have housed most rental car companies serving the airport. Now all rental car customers will be carried to and from the terminals in 16 new alternative-fuel shuttles owned and operated by the Airport Authority. This fleet replaces the approximately 81 shuttles now operated by the rental car companies.

“When I look at the new Rental Car Center, I see a facility that does it all,” said Robert Gleason, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board Chair. “It improves the customer experience from start to finish; it helps us maximize use of our 661-acre footprint in a sustainable way; and it bolsters the airport’s role as a key economic driver.”

Consolidating the rental car companies into one building will help reduce rental car traffic on Harbor Drive. The new shuttle buses will operate almost exclusively on a new interior airport roadway, according to the Airport Authority.

“With this facility, we’re helping to ease congestion on Harbor Drive while reducing the airport’s overall carbon footprint,” said Thella F. Bowens, the Airport Authority’s president/CEO.

The building, which is a candidate for LEED Silver certification, also features a quick-turn around area with 15 car wash bays and 72 gas filling stations, which are available to all the car rental brands in the facility.