Excursions, explorations and trips to Sweden. But expect to pay more for the summer car this year. Many people want to rent even this corona summer.
Last summer there was strong pressure on car rental companies, many people wanted access to a car over the summer as we had to stay in Sweden and could not travel abroad. Rental cars ran out, especially for long-term rentals.
At the same time, car rental companies had significantly cut back on their car fleets when the pandemic hit and the market died, so there were fewer cars to rent out last summer.
”"For a while we were down to 20 percent fewer cars, but now things have improved. The market is starting to come back," says Anders Trollsås, CEO of the car industry organization Biluthyrarna Sverige.
He says that car rental companies have had a really tough time. The industry was hit hard last spring when all business travel stopped, but is now being saved by private customers who are hungry for summer cars. However, he hopes that business travelers will come back.
”"I don't have a crystal ball, but one scenario is that we travel less but that the private segment remains. Another scenario is that business also takes off. In 2022, the airport market may grow, and be back again in 2023," says Anders Trollsås.
Now car rental companies have perhaps 10 percent fewer cars compared to 2019, he explains.
”"It's starting to look like a normal situation. But the airport market is almost dead, we have maybe 15 percent of the usual volume. But the private market is strengthened," says Anders Trollsås.
This year, there also seems to be strong demand from private individuals for summer cars, just like last year. But the industry is better prepared now, according to car rental companies.
”"We see many similar trends this year as last year. From midsummer until August, many people want to book," says Niklas Nyreröd, communications manager at Hertz car rental.
But last year people booked their cars for long periods. This year it looks like there will be a bit shorter rental periods, he says. And people seem to be out quite early.
Andrew Smith, head of Avis in Sweden, is on the same line.
”"It looks steadier this year compared to last year. Back then, people were hoping to be able to travel abroad and booked rental cars late. Now people have realized that there will be another summer in Sweden," he says.
Both Avis and Hertz are seeing customers booking long-term rentals for shorter periods this year compared to last year.
”"Last year, many people rented from midsummer and throughout the summer. This year we see that the average time is 20 days," says Niklas Nyreröd.
This year, both Hertz and Avis believe that there will be enough cars in Sweden for those who book in time.
”"Last year we had too few long-term cars and too many short-term cars. We have adjusted that now," says Niklas Nyreröd at Hertz.
Likewise, the cars that were at the airports have now been moved to the cities, where the private customers are located.
But the prices for long-term rentals will be higher.
”"In June–July, prices could be between 15 and 25 percent higher compared to last year," says Niklas Nyreröd.
Avis has not set its prices definitively yet, but does not rule out price increases.
However, anyone who wants to be a little spontaneous and book a car at short notice cannot be sure of finding one.
”We probably won't be able to meet demand in July,” says Niklas Nyreröd.
Source: TT
