American car rental franchise brand U-Save signed master country franchise agreement during the recent International Car Rental Show to extend its brand into Nicaragua.

The U-Save Master Country franchise was acquired by Juan Carlos Zuniga and his family-owned automotive group, Grupo El Chele, which was founded in 1991 in Managua, Nicaragua. The group has several businesses in its portfolio including car rental, used car sales, as well as representing Isuzu Motors in the country.

U-Save Nicaragua's first location will open soon at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, Nicaragua as an in-terminal counter location serving international and domestic travelers.

The sale of Nicaragua further expands U-Save's presence in Central America and brings the total number of U-Save countries of operation outside of the U.S. to 17.

"I am delighted to formally welcome Juan Carlos and his team to the U-Save family, and we look forward to working with them to deliver another U-Save success story," said U-Save International President Richard Lowden, in an April 24 news release.

U-Save and the owning company Green Motion International were sponsors and exhibitors at the International Car Rental Show in Las Vegas April 15-17.

U-Save which was established in 1979 in the U.S. was acquired by the international car rental brand Green Motion in 2022. Since the acquisition the brand has developed in further locations in the US domestic market and expanded its international operations from seven countries to 18.