Renting a car has become quite convenient in the present era, offering flexibility for city and suburban travel as well as business trips. However, such services were not always readily available.
Car rental services originated in the United States and Europe, with the first instance dating back to 1918 when Walter Jacob initiated car rental operations. At that time, the company had an initial fleet of 12 Ford cars. Walter Jacob’s business flourished, earning him over a million dollars within five years. Later, he sold the company but continued as a director for an extended period, introducing various innovations, including the placement of car rental counters at airports and suggesting payments through bank cards. In essence, Walter Jacob laid the foundation for many fundamental practices observed in the car rental industry today.
Another version of the car rental history involves the opening of an office in Munich in 1912. Martin Sixt, the owner of the office, initially focused on renting German cars, and the company was initially named Sixt Autofahrten. During World War II, Martin Sixt faced bankruptcy and passed away. After the war, his son revived and restructured the business, renaming it Auto Sixt. Today, Sixt operates globally and holds a prominent position in the car rental industry.
While the history can be further extended, it’s noteworthy that there are plenty of car rental companies worldwide, and you can find information about them on various social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, threads, and TikTok.