Car rental company Hertz on Monday announced a significant investment in offering electric options with an order for 100,000 Tesla cars by the end of 2022 and the installation of new charging infrastructure across the company’s global operations.
Beginning in early November 2021 and expanding throughout 2022, customers will be able to rent a Tesla Model 3 at Hertz on and off-airport locations in major U.S. markets as well as in select cities in Europe.
To go along with the order, Hertz will install 3,000 Tesla charging stations throughout the U.S. and Europe.
With the order, Hertz said it will operate the largest fleet of electric vehicles in North America and one of the largest in the world. Electric vehicles will make up more than 20 percent of the company’s global fleet after delivery, and they will be supported by Level 2 and DC fast charging in 65 markets by the end of 2022 and more than 100 markets by the end of 2023.
Customers renting Teslas will have access to digitized guidance to educate them about the vehicle, and Hertz said it soon will implement an expedited electric vehicle booking process through its mobile app.
Hertz said its investment is coming at a time when electric vehicles are becoming more popular among consumers due to their improving efficiency and environmental benefits coupled with rapidly expanding charging networks in major markets.
“Electric vehicles are now mainstream, and we’ve only just begun to see rising global demand and interest,” Hertz interim CEO Mark Fields said in a statement.
The company has restructured parts of its business in recent months as it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection proceedings, including the appointment of former Ford Motor Co. chief Fields as interim CEO.
The Tesla order comes as vehicle manufacturers around the world are struggling to keep up with demand due to a shortage of semiconductor chips, which Hertz said could affect its new fleet ambitions.