Avis Budget Group and Continental Expand Collaboration to Offer Connected, On-Demand, Keyless Experience
January 08, 2019 at 12:45 am IST
Share
Avis Budget Group, Inc. and Continental announced that they have expanded their partnership. Under the enhanced collaboration, Avis Budget Group will boost its fleet of connected cars in the United States and Europe by equipping 50,000 vehicles with Continental’s enhanced Key as a Service (KaaS) technology. Continental’s enhanced KaaS solution allows for two-way data communication between a vehicle and Avis Budget Group’s cloud-based system and its Avis mobile app, which effectively “connects” the car. Connected vehicles empower Avis customers to manage their entire rental experience through the Avis mobile app. In addition, Continental’s aftermarket solution also eliminates the need for physical car keys and enables Avis customers to use the Avis mobile app to unlock the car and start the engine. Until now, the KaaS solution only allowed for keyless entry and ignition and was only available in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area as part of Avis Budget Group’s “Mobility Lab” which serves as a test bed for fully connected vehicles and operations.
Avis Budget Group, Inc. is a provider of mobility solutions through its three brands, Avis, Budget and Zipcar, as well as several other brands. Its brands offer a range of options, from car and truck rental to car sharing. Its segments include Americas and International. The Americas segment consists primarily of vehicle rental operations in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and operates a car sharing business in these markets. The International segment consists of vehicle rental operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia, and operates a car sharing business in these markets. The Avis brand provides vehicle rental and other mobility solutions at price points generally above non-branded and value-branded vehicle rental companies and serves the premium commercial and leisure segments of the travel industry. Its other brands include Payless, Maggiore and Morini Rent, FranceCars, Apex, Turiscar and ACL Hire and McNicoll Hire.