Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car manufacturer, has begun delivering new Polestar 2 electric cars to Hertz. This is part of the agreement announced in April 2022, under which Polestar will supply the global car rental giant with 65,000 electric vehicles (EVs)over the next five years.
The partnership between Polestar and Hertz is one of the largest single orders for electric cars ever made. Hertz is initially receiving Polestar 2, the award-winning electric car which has established Polestar’s position as a premium electric vehicle manufacturer.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “Our partnership with Hertz is an exciting milestone that provides the opportunity for a significant number of potential new customers to experience an EV for the first time, and it will be in a Polestar.
“With over 55,000 Polestar cars already on the road across our 25 live markets, there is no doubt that our brand is growing at an incredible pace.”
Polestar 2 is also featured in the current Hertz “Let’s go” marketing campaign, further reinforcing the partnership between the two companies. In addition, Hertz is now adding the Polestar 1 electric performance hybrid to their fleet as well. This will allow customers to experience the high-performance carbon fibre sports GT first-hand.
The Hertz agreement also includes forthcoming Polestar models such as the Polestar 3 electric SUV which has its world premiere in October 2022.
Darren Arrington, executive vice president, Revenue Management and Fleet Acquisition for Hertz, said: “We’re excited to add this first delivery of Polestars to our fleet, expanding the opportunities for Hertz customers to enjoy the experience of driving an electric vehicle.”
Hertz has been an electric vehicle pioneer over the last past decade. It was the first US car rental company to introduce electric cars to its rental fleet in 2011. Plus, it was the first to implement a wireless charging system for electric vehicles.
The company also is the exclusive rental car member of the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance, a consortium of companies focused on accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.
Allowing renters to experience an electric car for the first time is a great way of introducing people to the positives of driving an EV and often helps convert them to zero-emissions motoring.