Rapid-response fleet cuts and integrated cost synergies have helped Europcar post a resilient set of annual figures, despite a sharp slump in demand due to the downturn. The car hire giant posted a stable revenue of €2.1 billion, up 0.5 percent, despite an unprecedented contraction of demand in second half, whilst consolidated growth was 2.2 percent higher.

As part of Europcar Australia’s environmental push, the car rental company is now adding more diesel vehicles to its fleet. Over the next few weeks the company will take delivery of a total of 500 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel 2.0 TDIs and Skoda Octavia Ambiente sedans.

Europcar has posted a healthy set of interim results with annual revenue up by more than 17 per cent, buoyed by the car rental company’s acquisition of the Europcar Asia Pacific franchise in May 2008.Revenues for the first six months of 2008 were €987.9 million, a 17.4 per cent increase based on the comparable period.

Ten years ago, long before sustainability and the environment became fashionable causes, Europcar opened an “environmental station” in Paris to address climate change.

Europcar UK Group has appointed Catriona Lougher as Consumer Marketing Director to spearhead a multi-million pound relaunch of Europcar into the UK leisure market. Her remit is to establish the brand as the UK market leader of car and van rental following Europcar’s global alliance and merger with National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car in 2007.

Last week Europcar International CEO, Salvatore Catania was presented with a prestigious World Travel Award for ‘Car rental travel personality of the year’ at the World Travel Market in London.