Hertz

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., initially founded as Rent-a-Car Inc. by Walter L. Jacobs in 1918, is one of the world's largest mobility companies, prominently based in Estero, Florida. With roots dating back over a century, Hertz pioneered the car rental industry and has since then developed into a key player not just in car rentals but also in vehicle leasing and sales. The company started with a modest fleet of twelve Model T Ford cars, quickly expanding to 600 vehicles within five years. It was later acquired by John D. Hertz, who transformed it into a household name, spearheading innovations that defined the car rental sector, including the introduction of one-way rentals and the first rental car charge cards.

Hertz’s growth continued throughout the decades, particularly with its expansion into international markets and various acquisitions, including Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental. Despite facing significant challenges, such as declaring bankruptcy in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, Hertz has made a strong recovery, restructuring its operations and embracing sustainability with a fleet electrification initiative in partnership with Tesla. Today, the company operates in 160 countries with a workforce of approximately 27,000 employees, offering a wide range of vehicles from economy to luxury to meet customer needs everywhere, from busy airports to local communities.