Discount Car Rental in Australia and New Zealand
Hertz is entering the discount car rental business in Australia and New Zealand with its acquisition of Ace Rental Cars. Ace is the second largest discount car rental company in New Zealand, and it will continue to operate under its existing brand as an independent subsidiary. Ace was established 25 years ago and has a fleet of good quality vehicles throughout New Zealand and also in Queensland, Australia.
Hertz has been aggressively pushing into the low cost car rental market in other countries as well, with value brand operations already established in the US, Europe, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean though its discount car rental subsidiary Advantage. The company sees the Australasian market as offering major opportunities for growth because tourism is a major contributor to their national economies. The CEO of Ace, Mike Chatterley-whose father co-founded the company-will remain in his current role.