About Avis

In 1946 Warren Avis opened the world's first airport car rental location at Willow Run Airport, Detroit, with a grand total of three cars. Today, Avis worldwide operates in 5,200 locations in 165 countries. Energy, enthusiasm, innovative industry leadership and an ethos of continuous improvement have characterised the company for many years.

The essence of Avis's success has been a singular vision of building the best and fastest growing company within the business of car rental through continuous investment in its network, leading technology and, most importantly, its people.

"We try harder"...

...is not just the fifth most famous advertising slogan of all time; it is an open-ended promise to do better today than we did yesterday; to deliver value to our customers, our employees and our shareholders. It is the spirit of Avis.

Everyone in the company has an important part to play in achieving excellent and consistent customer service and delivering the "We try harder" promise.

Here are a few key historical milestones in this success story.

In our days

Avis Car Rental and its subsidiaries operate one of the world's best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,200 locations in 165 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world's top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAR), which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world.

2011
Avis Budget Group acquires Avis Europe plc. The transaction re-unites Avis Budget Group with its licensee for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

2008
Introduces the unique "3 Minute Promise" at over 500 locations in France, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Portugal and Switzerland. With "3 Minute Promise" Avis Preferred customers get their keys in under 3 minutes - significant reduction of customers awaiting time.

2004
Opens a new shared service centre in Budapest in January 2004, as part of the continuing investment in technology to create a flexible platform for the future growth and development of the Avis Group.

2003
Acquires the rights to operate the Budget brand in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Began operations in Tanzania and Mali, increasing the territories served in the Africa and Indian Ocean region to thirty-five.

2002
Avis continues to expand in China through its joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Sales Corporation SAISC). With 10 stations in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Suzhou, plans are progressing to extend to Beijing, Nanjing and Hangzhou by the end of 2004. Avis China provides a full range of Rent A Car and leasing services with and without chauffeurs.

1999
Expands into Asia with a Licensee agreement to grow car rental operations into the Japanese market and signs a joint venture agreement with Mercury Car Rentals Ltd. to operate car rental in 9 major cities in India. The launch of services in these cities forms the platform for an aggressive expansion programme for business growth encompassing the major business and leisure centres throughout India.

1997
Successfully floats on the London Stock Exchange for the second time primarily to fund expansion of its core business. Extends licence to the Avis name and brand to a further 27 territories in Asia, giving the Group access to a vast new market.

1995
Accelerates global partnerships development, forging new alliances with leading names in the worldwide travel industry. Now with over 80 airline partners worldwide and many other international travel providers.

1992
Sells substantially all its leasing operations to GE Capital Fleet Services.

1989

Reverts to private ownership with 3 major shareholders, D'Ieteren, General Motors and Avis Inc.

1986
Separates legally from its former owner, Avis Inc., whilst still remaining part of the Avis worldwide system. Avis Europe becomes the first car rental company in history to successfully float on the London Stock Exchange. In 3 years as a public company, Avis Europe triples its market value.

1985
Wizard implementation commences in Europe . . . today this unique system processes 97% of Avis Europe's transactions and interfaces with all major global distribution systems.

1979

Enters a worldwide advertising and marketing agreement with General Motors and begins featuring GM cars in its fleet worldwide.

1973
Achieves market leadership in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, just 8 years after Avis Europe was founded. Begins expansion into the fleet leasing market.

1972

Introduces a major technological innovation... the Wizard computer system... the first and today, still the most extensive on-line, real-time reservation, rental and management information system in the industry.

1965
Formally expands in the international arena by founding the Europe, Africa and Middle East division (Avis Europe). Corporate operations are established in major European countries and in some cases success is spectacular e.g. in Spain, Avis climbs from newcomer to largest car rental company in just one year.

1963

Launches bold new advertising campaign... 'We're only No.2. We try harder'... now acknowledged as one of the 10 best advertising slogans of all time and embedded as the very essence of the company's culture. The campaign brings Avis back into the black after many years in the red.

1953
International expansion begins with franchise operations in Europe, Canada and Mexico.

1946

Warren Avis founds Avis Airlines Rent a Car Systems at Willow Run Airport, Detroit. Anticipating post-war travel trends, this is the world's first car rental operation at an airport location.

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