Rental cars may influence new vehicle purchase decisions, according to survey data from Enterprise Holdings.
Nearly six of ten Canadians are using rental vehicles as an extended test drive before purchasing that make or model, found the car rental provider. That number increases to 72 per cent for customers aged 25-34.
Enterprise also found that 69 per cent of customers who had a positive experience renting a specific make or model ended up changing their perceptions of that vehicle.
Almost half of Enterprise customers often experience new car technologies in rental vehicles. And when selecting a rental vehicle, Canadians —16 per cent —are more likely than Americans to choose a compact car —10 per cent.
“Manufacturers have discovered that car rental —regardless of whether it’s for an hour, a day, a week or longer — is a significant link in the automotive value chain,” said Susan Lombardo, Senior Vice-President of Vehicle Acquisition for Enterprise Holdings, in a written release. “That means we can help automakers maintain and even grow market share,” she added.
The study surveyed 1,501 Canadian Enterprise Holdings customers online between January 30 and March 3, 2015.
