Global fleets operating in Europe will be the first to benefit from a new global partnership between Hertz and Polestar announced today (April 04, 2022).

Over the next five years, the daily rental provider Hertz will purchase 65,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from Geely-owned Swedish performance car maker Polestar. Initially this will be centered on the Polestar 2 model.

Availability is expected to begin spring 2022 Europe and late 2022 North America and Australia, according to a statement from Hertz.

The vehicles will be made available to business customers in particular, who are suffering from lack of new car availability to replace aging fleet cars as well as a desire to electrify fleets. Leisure and rideshare customers of Hertz will also benefit.

“Today’s partnership with Polestar further builds on our ambition to become a leading participant in the modern mobility ecosystem and doing so as an environmentally forward company. By working with EV industry leaders like Polestar, we can help accelerate the adoption of electrification while providing renters, corporate customers, and rideshare partners a premium EV product, exceptional experience, and lower carbon footprint,” said Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO.

Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath added: “Polestar is committed to accelerating the move to electric mobility. We are delighted that Hertz has chosen Polestar as a strategic partner on their road to electrification. The partnership with a global pioneer like Hertz will bring the amazing experience of driving an electric car to a wider audience, satisfying a broad variety of our mutual customers' short- and longer-term mobility requirements. For many of them it may be the first time they have driven an EV, and it will be a Polestar.”

In October last year, Hertz ordered 100,000 Tesla vehicles to be delivered over a 14-month timeframe as part of the Hertz electrification plan. The company's ambition is to offer the largest EV rental fleet in North America and one of the largest globally.