Corporate Profile - Hertz History

The Hertz Rent a Car Company was 90 years old in 2008

Hertz, the world's oldest and largest vehicle renting organizations with a fleet of 680.000 vehicles, operates from approximately 7000 locations in 150 countries worldwide.

In 1918, Walter L. Jacobs opened a car rental business with a dozen Model T Fords in one of the back streets in Chicago. Jacobs, John D. Hertz and the other generations of the management created a company that brought a new industry into existence and greatly contributed to the way business is done today.

In fact, sooner or later almost all enterprises would come to a halt, or never would have started, if it was not for car rental facility. We can proudly say that car rental industry would not have flourished the way it does nowadays without the 90 years of pioneer activity of Hertz Company, and that way the first car rentals opened at railway stations where the journeys ended.

Hertz was the first company that solved the clients' problem of picking up a car at one location and returning it to an another, and in 1932 Hertz opened the first "rent-a-car" facility at Chicago's Midway Airport, before the first Fly/Drive car rental program was introduced. And as it happened, the recently elected mayor, Richard Daley Sr complained to the manager of the local office: "Listen, there is something to be straightened out: This airport belongs to Chicago and not Hertz". Of course Hertz had the wisdom to recognize the significance of international travel and created a global network.

Over the years, being the first in the technology, serving large number of customers, Hertz has kept its leading position in the field of car rental business. At the airport in Los Angeles, Hertz has had the same size of customer service since it had 40 years ago when they rented out 200 vehicles a day compared to the 4000 vehicles it rents out today. These figures speak for themselves.

All over the years, there have been milestones that have contributed to the development of Hertz. Jacob's was the first. In the first five years the business expanded so he looked for a partner. He met John Hertz, President of Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company, who gave his name and the well-known yellow and black colors to the success of their business. Hertz said: "I have been in the traveling business all my life. We must have a dream first and be brave enough to realize it".

In 1926, Hertz Drive-Ur-Self System, was acquired by General Motors Corporation that brought a new area in the life of the company.
Hertz later joined the American Express and United Airlines, then in our days, Ford and Volvo as well. By the late of1920s, Hertz offices were opened at railway stations with reservation facilities and the first Rail/ Drive Program. Its appearance at Midway airport already projected the future. The whole globalization and the development of Hertz car rental industry began after the World War II.

Hertz became famous internationally of its first rate service and quality. Hertz offices symbolize unity, with the staff wearing the same uniform all over the world so travelers find atmosphere pleasant and safe. Hertz yellow always receive a warm welcome wherever it goes. It goes without saying that cars are waiting its potential drivers clean.

By the late 50s, with the introduction of jet planes private and business travel became every day routine. It was the Hertz Company that opened its first Fly/Drive European office in Paris in 1957. Hertz offices were set up in the center of trade and entertainment such as in hotels of inner cities or railway stations. However, airports needed larger areas to operate so they started to grow apart from the city centers. Hertz had to make its first step and it did. Fortunately, airlines were there to help with offering travelers different packages that included hotel and plane ticket reservation with car rental in the price. In 1978, due to the deregulation of airlines, many airplanes have taken passengers to all parts of the world so airline companies have competed for the passengers' favor. Hertz had got a competitive advantage with opening its first reservation center in 1971 before the boost of travel even started.