Hertz, the global rental car company, and Polestar, the Swedish premium electric performance car maker, have announced a strategic global partnership. Hertz will purchase up to 65,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from Polestar over five years. This will initially be the Polestar 2 electric crossover.
The new electric cars are expected to be available from spring 2022 in Europe and late 2022 in North America and Australia. This shows that the demand for renting zero-emissions vehicles continues to grow around the world. It’s also a great way for people to experience driving an electric car for the first time without the need to purchase.
For Hertz, who also operates the Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the partnership is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to lead in electrification, shared mobility and a digital-first customer experience.
The partnership with Polestar builds on Hertz’s announcement last October to offer its customers the largest electric vehicle rental fleet in North America and one of the largest in the world. Hopefully, other rental companies will follow Hertz’s lead by expanding their electric vehicle fleets.
In addition to making the fleet available to its business and leisure customers, Hertz is extending electric vehicles to rideshare drivers as a way to further accelerate electrification.
Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO, said: “We are excited to partner with Polestar and look forward to introducing their premium EV products into our retail and rideshare fleets.
“Today’s partnership with Polestar further builds on our ambition to become a leading participant in the modern mobility ecosystem and doing so as an environmentally-forward company.
“By working with EV industry leaders like Polestar, we can help accelerate the adoption of electrification while providing renters, corporate customers and rideshare partners a premium EV product, exceptional experience and lower carbon footprint.”
Polestar reported that it nearly tripled volumes in 2021 and anticipates more than doubling volumes again this year. This shows just how popular the Polestar 2 crossover electric vehicle has been. Polestar expects volumes to reach 290,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2025.
Polestar is helping to drive global EV growth and the shift to sustainable mobility as consumer interest in the environmental and convenience benefits of electrification increases.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CE, said: “Polestar is committed to accelerating the move to electric mobility with a fascinating and innovative product portfolio. We are delighted that Hertz has chosen Polestar as a strategic partner on their road to electrification.
“The partnership with a global pioneer like Hertz will bring the amazing experience of driving an electric car to a wider audience, satisfying a broad variety of our mutual customers’ short- and longer-term mobility requirements. For many of them it may be the first time they have driven an EV, and it will be a Polestar.”
