In a statement, Hertz interim CEO Mark Fields said, “Electric vehicles are now mainstream, and we’ve only just begun to see rising global demand and interest.”
Fields added, “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.”
In 2011, Hertz was the first U.S. rental company to offer EVs to customers. It was also the first to implement a wireless charging station for EVs.
Hertz is making a big investment in its EV rental fleet after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over a year ago, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May, Knighthead Capital Management, Certares Management and certain Fund managed by Apollo Capital Management won the bid to take over the car rental company in its bankruptcy reorganization. The investment firms provided more than $5.9 billion of new equity capital to Hertz, which completed its bankruptcy restructuring process in June.
