The joining of Avis Budget Group's and Carey's sales forces "has nothing whatsoever to do with rate," according to an Avis Budget spokesman.

He was disputing a comment by Dave Kildu?, managing director of the CWT Solutions Group ground transportation practice, who in response said, "Theoretically, agreements like this generally provide price benefits in addition to other customer advantages. Avis Budget Group and Carey would know best what the customer benefits of their agreement are, and if price is not a benefit, it remains to be seen how corporations will respond to this offering." The car rental firm and chauffeured transportation provider recently began integrating sales forces about two years after Avis Budget paid about $60 million for 45 percent of Carey.