A company spokesman said that it would inform customers who had bought the cars, and offer to buy them back from the customers. Enterprise admitted that it inaccurately advertised and sold 745 Chevrolet Impalas-model years 2006 through 2008-that were identified online as having side air bags, when in fact they did not. About 5,000 Chevrolet Cobalts and Buick LaCrosses were also purchased with the side air bags omitted. The practice, which the company notes does not "violate any federal mandate", came to national attention when cars being retired from their rental fleet were sold with claims that side-curtain air bags were included. Some of the international countries in which Enterprise operate include Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.ĭuring model years 2006–2008, 66,000 of the Chevrolet Impalas the company ordered were purchased without side-curtain airbags, saving the company $11.5 million ($175 per vehicle), though the airbags were standard in retail models. Several countries within the Enterprise network are operated through franchise partnerships. With a network of approximately 9,500 car rental locations in nearly 100 countries and territories by October 2020, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has continued to expand into new locations well into 2021. International Growth Īs of 2021 Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates the largest rental network globally. In addition to renting vehicles, Enterprise sells vehicles that are displaced from its fleet at used car dealerships nationwide as Enterprise Car Sales. Within five years, a successful manager may take positions at headquarters or become an area manager responsible for multiple branches. According to BusinessWeek's list of "Best Places to Launch a Career", Enterprise was in the top 15. Certain requirements and qualifications must be met to get promoted to an assistant manager, and many of these qualifications may depend on the employees' sales and their success in the company's management training program. Although the company's pay for management trainees was among the lowest on the list (at an average $34,000), "those who catch on" quickly get a chance to run a branch office with the responsibility to generate a profit. In 2006, Business Week listed Enterprise among the top 10 places to begin a career. The company was named ninth on Business Week's top 25 companies customer service list in 2007. Power and Associates as highest in customer satisfaction for rental car companies at or near airports. īy 2005, Enterprise Rent-A-Car's customer service has been recognized seven times by J.D. It also rents commercial cargo vans, pickup trucks and box trucks under the Enterprise Truck Rental brand. Įnterprise rents a wide variety of vehicles that range from economy cars to exotic vehicles. The company's initial entry into Europe came in 1994. In 1995, Enterprise Rent-A-Car also began expanding its operations to include the airport market, and now serves airports in the United States, Canada, the UK, Spain, Germany, and Ireland. Originally known as "Executive Leasing Company," in 1969, Taylor renamed the company "Enterprise" after the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, on which he served during World War II.Įnterprise Rent-A-Car's primary focus is the local rental car market, specializing in car rentals to consumers who need a replacement car as the result of an accident, mechanical repair, theft, or who require a vehicle for a special occasion such as a short business or leisure trip. In addition to car rental, Enterprise Holdings also markets other transportation services under the Enterprise name including commercial fleet management, used car sales, and commercial truck rental operations.Įnterprise Rent-A-Car was established in St. The company has historically concentrated on what it calls “home city” rentals, often people renting a car while their own was being repaired, but in recent years has expanded to airport-based rentals, especially after its parent company's acquisition of Alamo and National in 2007. Enterprise is the flagship brand of Enterprise Holdings, which also owns other agencies including Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an American car rental agency headquartered in Clayton, Missouri, in Greater St.