Hertz Extends Connect Network to University of Reading
By Hertz, PRNEWednesday, October 13, 2010
Connect by Hertz Signs Second University Deal in the UK and Offers Free Membership to Over 18,000 Students and Staff
UXBRIDGE, England, October 14, 2010 - Connect by Hertz, The Hertz Corporation's global car sharing
club, has announced its second contract with a university in the United
Kingdom. University of Reading, one of the UK's top research-intensive
universities, now offers its students and staff the opportunity to reserve
and collect fuel-efficient and eco-friendly Fiat 500 Connect cars from
campus.
The cars are available to hire from GBP3.95 per hour, at any
time of day or night, and can be booked over the phone, using an I-phone, or
by visiting the www.connectbyhertz.com website. The rate includes
insurance, fuel, maintenance, cleaning, roadside assistance and London's
congestion charge. As part of this exclusive partnership, the first annual
membership fee of GBP50 has also been waived for all University of Reading
students and staff.
The compact Fiat 500 offers best-in-class safety features, an
anti-pollution system featuring Start & Stop technology, and a very low CO2
output of less than 120g/km. The cars are equipped with Fiat's 'Blue&Me'
system, a hands-free voice-activated entertainment and communication system
with iPod/MP3 player connectivity. The club car also incorporates keyless
entry via a smart chip-enabled Connect Card.
Connect by Hertz formally launched this initiative during the
University's Fresher's Fair on 6th and 7th October, 2010. The car club will
be promoted further on campus during the university's Green Week in November
with a special exhibition on 9th November, 2010.
Michel Taride, President of Hertz International, said: "It is
a pleasure to work with University of Reading in offering these great
benefits to their students and staff. This partnership highlights the growing
popularity of car-sharing amongst universities seeking green solutions which
are both convenient and cost-effective. The other attraction of this scheme
lies in its simplicity- members can just click, book and drive away."
Denise Shearman, Head of Campus Services at the University of
Reading, commented: "We are delighted to be able to offer the Connect by
Hertz car sharing scheme to our staff and students. The University of Reading
is committed to reducing the impact on our natural environment and we always
welcome ideas which will assist us in achieving this goal. The Connect by
Hertz car share initiative is an excellent addition to our existing
environmental policies. The car club will not only help us in cutting down on
our carbon emissions but will also contribute to our local community by
reducing traffic congestion and the pressure for residents' parking spaces."
Connect by Hertz background information
The fleet of Connect by Hertz is carefully chosen based on a
set of aggressive standards established in the categories of
manufacturing/maintenance quality, environmental sustainability, safety, and
a blend of fun and functionality. The fleet includes: Alfa Romeo Mito, MINI
Cooper D, Fiat 500, Ford Focus and Ford Transit LWB Vans (London), MINI
Cooper D, Opel Meriva and Opel Corsa (Paris), MINI Cooper D, Ford Focus and
Nissan Pixo (Berlin), MINI Cooper D, Toyota Yaris and Toyota Verso (Madrid)
and Toyota Prius (New York City).
Connect by Hertz adapts the latest in end-to-end telematics to
further provide superior customer service. Upon making a reservation, each
member receives an email confirmation on bookings as well as a SMS alert
indicating the reserved car's license plate and location. To unlock and
engage the vehicle, members simply need to swipe their card over the car's
radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader.
About the University of Reading
The University of Reading is a renowned research-intensive
university, ranked in the World Top 200. The University is making huge
strides towards creating a green university, as evidenced by a leap of 43
places in the People & Planet's Green League 2010. More information about the
University's work in this area at www.reading.ac.uk/cleanandgreen
About Hertz
Hertz is the world's largest general use car rental company, operating
from over 8,200 corporate locations in 146 countries. Hertz is now in its
91st year of delivering quality car rental solutions to leisure and corporate
customers. Product and service innovations such as Hertz #1 Club Gold,
specially designed NeverLost satellite navigation systems, Hertz in-car DVD
Entertainment and unique cars offered through the company's Prestige, Fun and
Green Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition.
Website: www.connectbyhertz.com
For Connect by Hertz news and promotions follow us on Twitter:
@ConnectByHertz
Caroline Trotman-Dickenson caroline.trotman-dickenson@ketchumpleon.com / +44(0)20-7611-3686 Alicia Mistry alicia.mistry@ketchumpleon.com / +44(0)20-7611-3574
Caroline Trotman-Dickenson, caroline.trotman-dickenson at ketchumpleon.com / +44(0)20-7611-3686, Alicia Mistry, alicia.mistry at ketchumpleon.com / +44(0)20-7611-3574
Tags: England, Hertz, October 14, United Kingdom, Uxbridge