From an order of only 100 Beetles worth less than R200 000 about 33 years ago, to 75 000 vehicles worth just over R2,3-billion in 2004, the relationship between VW and car rental group Avis has come a long way.

That was the message from executives of the two companies as they toasted the delivery of the 75 000th vehicle at a small function held at the German car maker’s plant in Uitenhage earlier this month.

The event established VW as largest supplier of vehicles to Avis SA, with about 40 per cent.

Avis, a JSE-listed division of South Africa’s international brand management group Barloworld, is southern Africa’s biggest vehicle rental company with operations at 110 locations in the region.

Avis took delivery of its first batch of VW vehicles in 1971, with an order of 100 Beetles worth less than R200 000.

However, this year alone, VW will deliver some 3 500 cars to Avis worth in excess of R400-million
It emerged yesterday that Avis had secured the exclusive rental rights to the new Golf 5 for the first six months of its introduction to SA, which occurred last month.

“We believe the partnership between VW and Avis to be unique in the industry,” said VW sales and marketing director Jolyon Nash.

Bill Stephens, communications director at VWSA quipped that given the huge volume of cars sold by the auto maker to Avis over the years, customers of the rental company in South Africa would have travelled in excess of 2,6-billion kilometres in VW cars over the past 33 years.

Avis chief executive Grenville Wilson also described as “unique” the business relationship between two companies and said his company intended to further strengthen it with “more years of close co-operation”.