Europcar news

Europcar, the number one car rental company in Europe, and easyJet, Europe’s leading low-fares airline, today announced a special initiative to increase customers’ awareness about the benefits of offsetting carbon emissions. Under this action, all customers who book their vehicle rental through easyJet.com between December 19, 2008 and January 8, 2009 will have their carbon emissions offset by the two partner companies.

Europcar is helping the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to save lives at sea in a new 3 year contract extension. Under the new agreement, Europcar will provide the 40,000 RNLI volunteers across the UK and Ireland with access to daily rental vehicles to support their work for the charity, in many cases, helping them reach remote coastal areas. The new deal will also see Europcar provide longer term rentals to meet the RNLI’s transport needs.

At the 2008 World Travel Awards ceremony on December 2 in the Turks & Caicos, Europcar was named the World’s Leading Green Transport Solution Company, an environmental award launched this year. The company was also elected World’s Leading Leisure Car Rental Company for the second year in a row.

Following Alistair Darling’s statement today, confirming no significant increase on Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) until 2010 and a reduction in the maximum duty increase, Europcar UK Group, the UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation, supports the decision to ease the strain on motorists in an already difficult economic climate. The latest survey conducted by You Gov Plc for Europcar reveals that 54% of households have one car, but it’s the 37% of households with two cars that have felt the bigger impact of recent cost increases.

Tim Bailey, Europcar’s Fleet Director is available to give expert comment ahead of the Pre-Budget Report on the cost of motoring and reducing fuel costs. He is also available to comment on the government’s decision about the proposed changes to Vehicle Excise Duty and the impact on motorists once the Pre-Budget Report has been announced.

Following the appointment of Marketing Director, Catriona Lougher, earlier this year, the UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation, Europcar UK Group, has confirmed its above and below the line agency roster. Encompassing the Europcar, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands in the UK, the appointments will support the daily rental provider’s multi-million pound marketing campaign planned for 2009.

New car sales may be struggling but Europcar, the UK’s leading vehicle rental company has proved that a relatively new car, combined with some simple driving techniques, can save motorists as much as £800 a year in fuel costs compared with driving an older vehicle.

With today’s hectic pace of life, sitting in traffic can send stress levels through the roof, making car journeys a necessary evil. In support of National Stress Awareness Day on 5 November, Europcar, the UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation is offering drivers tips for staying cool and collected while out on the road.

The kids fighting in the back seat, being cut up by another driver at the lights and traffic reduced to a stand-still are all ingredients for a stressful journey. Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director of Europcar UK Group says. “The more stressed and angry drivers become, the more likely they are to make rash decisions and run the risk of an accident. Stress can also result in common ailments such as headaches, back pain, high blood pressure and can even lead to long-term health problems.”

“National Stress Awareness Day is a good opportunity to look at ways to release some tension and stay relaxed behind the wheel. The drive to school, work or simply to the shops on a busy weekend, doesn’t have to be hell on wheels; it can be an opportunity for some time alone aided by some in-car meditation and yoga. Follow our quick and easy relaxation techniques to bring a moment of calm to the journey.”

Europcar’s tips for staying calm in the car

• Ensure you’ve had adequate rest before setting off on your journey – and that everyone has gone to the loo!  There’s nothing worse than getting caught short.
• Don’t exceed the speed limit and notice how much calmer you feel
• Ensure your seating position is comfortable
• Turn off your phone – then you won’t be tempted to answer it if it rings
• Work out your route, as getting lost will increase the risk of stress. Europcar offers Sat Nav units to rent from all its branches
• Department for Transport advise driver to take a 15-minute break every two hours on a long journey
• Say thank you and apologise if you make a mistake
• Sing along to favourite songs or listen to an audio book
• Consider renting a larger car for long journeys to give everyone room

Breathing and relaxation in a traffic jam:

• Inhale through your nose for a count of five, then exhale for a count of eight. Stretch your hands out in front of you with fingers interlaced and palms facing outward. Hold the stretch for five seconds
• Curl your toes and tighten for a count of 10. Release
• Flex your foot (arching toes upward) and hold for a count of 10. Release and extend feet, hold for 10 and release.
• Move up through your body tensing each area for 10 and then releasing.
• When you reach the hands, tense and release, first with fingers splayed outward and extended, then with the hands balled into a fist.
• Scrunch face and then release. Prepare for funny looks from other drivers

END

November 2008 Notes to Editors Owned by the French private equity firm Eurazeo, Europcar is the European leader in passenger car and light utility vehicle rentals. Since March 2007 with the acquisition of Vanguard EMEA (National & Alamo brands), its network comprises over 5,300 rental outlets in 160 countries. Europcar serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Excluding franchise operations, in 2007 Europcar signed more than 10 million rental contracts, with 7,700 employees and a fleet exceeding 215,000 vehicles. For more information: www.europcar.com

For further press information please contact Dominic Dennis, Elinor Puzey, Jenny Staniforth or Madeleine Roles at HSL, Churcham House, 1 Bridgeman Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 9AJ. Telephone: 020 8977 9132. Fax: 020 8977 5200. Email: leisureteam@harrisonsadler.com

Increasing motoring costs and the fuel price hikes we have seen this year are changing how we drive our cars in the UK – but ignorance of the real cost of motoring could lead to longer term financial pain for car owners. These are the conclusions of new research on attitudes to car ownership conducted by You Gov Plc for Europcar UK Group, the UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation.

Increasing motoring costs and the fuel price hikes we have seen this year are changing how we drive our cars in the UK – but ignorance of the real cost of motoring could lead to longer term financial pain for car owners. These are the conclusions of new research on attitudes to car ownership conducted by You Gov Plc for Europcar UK Group, the UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation.