MT. LAUREL, NJ – Founded in Maple Shade, N.J., on October 12, 1948, Automotive Resources International (ARI) last month marked its sixtieth year in operation. Six decades ago, one ARI employee leased the company's first 75 vehicles to a small handful of clients. Today, 1,200 employees manage more than 2,000 clients throughout North America.

According to the company, ARI's first twenty years were busy with expansion, strategically within the industry and physically across the country. In the 1970s, it built and has continuously improved its information systems with cutting-edge tools. In the 1980s, ARI established its maintenance management and originated the industry's first licensing programs. The company implemented its quality assurance program, Partners In Excellence, in 1989, and the fleet administration program in the 1990s.

In recent years, ARI has offered strategic consulting services to clients including ways to implement green initiatives and ensure compliance.

"This month marks ARI's 60^th anniversary, and as we grow beyond 650,000 vehicles, it marks a significant milestone in our history of fleet management excellence," said Bill McKee, ARI president. "The indelible contributions of ARI's most important resource — our people — have not only kept ARI an industry leader, they have shaped the face of fleet management over the past 60 years."