Published on :
–
New York (AFP)
600 dollars for two days of rental car, twice as expensive as his plane ticket … Like many Americans, Joe Pohlen, an entrepreneur from Michigan, remains stunned by this unexpected consequence of the end of the pandemic.
Only one agency had a car available, Hertz, he told AFP. He did choose “the cheapest option possible” but the bill was $ 601.59 for a vehicle picked up in Baltimore and returned to Harrisburg two days later, for a short trip to Pennsylvania.
Not only have prices skyrocketed, it can be hard to just find a car.
In Hawaii, some desperate tourists have had to turn to moving vans, according to local media.
Rental agencies are struggling to meet demand because they have been hit hard by the pandemic, when tourists and professionals suddenly stopped traveling.
To keep costs down, the big agencies have mass sold their cars and given up on new purchases. Avis, for example, indicated in February that it had reduced its fleet by 31%.
But with the rapid progress of the vaccination campaign in the United States and the gradual lifting of restrictions, consumers have resumed their taste for travel.
“Like the rest of the industry,” Enterprise “has faced increased demand for vehicles for spring and summer vacation, especially in popular tourist destinations,” a spokesperson told AFP. .
From March, demand increased in areas such as Florida, Arizona or Utah ski resorts, Avis boss Joseph Ferraro said on a conference call Tuesday. .
The semiconductor shortage that has disrupted auto production since the start of the year has made matters worse.
– Sale to individuals –
Manufacturers prefer to sell their cars to individuals, who pay more than agencies. Faced with this situation, rental companies are adapting as best they can, in particular by keeping their cars longer.
“One of the positive aspects of this pandemic is that our vehicles just did not have as many kilometers driven,” remarked Mr. Ferraro, the boss of Avis. The group also pays much more attention to maintenance.
But “getting into a vehicle that is three or four years old, with 50,000 to 80,000 kilometers on the clock, which does not necessarily have the usual options, that will perhaps affect your perception of the brand”, remarks Ivan Drury , from the specialized site Edmunds. Especially if the customer has paid a lot more than usual.
To avoid frustration, Enterprise recommends that customers “reserve a vehicle as early as possible.” “Being flexible about when and where to pick up can also help increase options,” the company notes.
Some drivers try to bypass the system by indicating that they want to rent for a week even if they only need three days. Between the high prices of plane tickets, housing and rental cars, others simply forgo certain destinations.
The economic recovery underway in the United States has led to a boom in demand for certain products or services. With logistical bottlenecks and unforeseen events like semiconductor shortages, many prices are pulled up.
The concerns of rental agencies are in any case the happiness of platforms directly connecting individuals like Turo.
“We are delighted that a record number of travelers are discovering the incredible hospitality of Turo hosts, our quality selection, convenience and value for money,” said company boss André Haddad in a commentary. message to AFP.
Emergency nurse in Los Angeles, Bobby Binissa has offered three cars on Turo since the start of the year.
“My Tesla has been reserved permanently for two months and until at least the end of May,” he told AFP. Whenever his family doesn’t need them, he also offers two slightly older vehicles for hire.
“I have increased my prices in view of the demand. But I cannot go too high either because I have to remain competitive” against the other offers on the site, he remarks.
These platforms have for the first time the opportunity to really compete with rental agencies, says Drury. But once they can inflate their fleet with new cars, “they will operate again in a different league”.
© 2021 AFP
–
