Rental giant Hertz has ordered 100,000 Teslas in its bid to become more eco-friendly.
The order will make Hertz the largest electric vehicle rental company in the world and the company expects to have the cars by the end of 2022.
However, at present Tesla is struggling to fill orders and has a serious backlog due to global supply chain problems. “Our backlogs are continuing to grow and average customer wait times are extending,” Tesla Chief Financial Officer Zach Kirkhorn told investors last week.
Beginning in early November and expanding through year-end, customers will be able to rent a Tesla Model 3 at Hertz airport and neighbourhood locations in U.S. major markets and select cities in Europe.
Hertz also is installing thousands of chargers throughout its location network. Customers who rent a Tesla Model 3 will have access to 3,000 Tesla supercharging stations throughout the U.S. and Europe.
“Electric vehicles are now mainstream, and we’ve only just begun to see rising global demand and interest,” said Hertz interim CEO Mark Fields.
“The new Hertz is going to lead the way as a mobility company, starting with the largest EV rental fleet in North America and a commitment to grow our EV fleet and provide the best rental and recharging experience for leisure and business customers around the world.”
Hertz will offer a premium and differentiated rental experience for the Tesla EVs. This includes digitized guidance to educate customers about the electric vehicle to get them on their way quickly and coming soon, an expedited EV rental booking process through the Hertz mobile app.
EVs will comprise more than 20% of Hertz global fleet and is expected to be supported by a combination of Level 2 and DC fast charging in approximately 65 markets by the end of 2022 and more than 100 markets by the end of 2023. Hertz said these ambitions could be affected by factors outside of Hertz’s control, such as semiconductor chip shortages or other constraints.
Keyword: Hertz Orders 100,000 Teslas to Electrify 20% of Global Fleet