Hertz offers ‘Green Collection’ choice to customers

Hertz has now made it easy for customers to choose and drive their most environmentally friendly and fuel efficient vehicles, with the launch of the Hertz Green Collection, available from 1st October 2006.

The launch will see around 6,800 small and mid size, and full size automatic and manual vehicles to choose from across the UK, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. The range will also be made available in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland before the end of 2006, resulting in a total of 50 locations offering the Collection.

The launch of the Green Collection makes Hertz the first car hire company to offer a specific range of vehicles which are more environmentally friendly. The range across Europe will include the Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI, Renault Megane D 5CV, Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI and Skoda Octavia TDI, amongst many others.

Renting a car from the Green Collection couldn’t be easier. Customers can just specify that they wish to book a Green Collection vehicle upon making their reservation. This will be possible by logging on to www.hertz.co.uk or by calling reservations on 08708 44 88 44 from 1st October.

Both carbon emission and MPG levels were studied in order to determine which vehicles would achieve the criteria for the Collection. Customers will be reassured that vehicles in the Green Collection have a weighted CO2 output of less than 140 g/km. All vehicles within the range achieve between 41.5 and 65.7 miles per gallon. The Green Collection criteria already meets the 2008 voluntary target of the maximum average 140 g/km CO2 output set by the EU for the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Bill Jones, vice president, marketing and sales, said: “We’ve had thousands of fuel efficient cars in our fleet for years and we’re taking the important step to help customers easily select the greenest cars we offer, if that is what they wish.

“As manufacturers strive to develop cars with lower emissions levels, Hertz is committed to purchasing more vehicles of this calibre, giving customers the opportunity to book exactly what they want.”

Hertz will also be adding hybrid dual fuel cars to its European fleet that customers will be able to reserve by make and model.

The launch of the Green Collection in Europe is in line with Hertz’ global initiative, which commenced in September 2006 in the US.