Hertz is buying 175,000 EVs from General Motors over the next five years. In a recent driving interview between the two companies’ CEOs, Hertz revealed that a number of those will be desirable models like the Cadillac Lyriq and the Silverado EV pickup truck. It intends to have a quarter of its fleet be electric by the end of 2024.
As the transition toward electric vehicles continues, there are many who are still afraid of the potential nightmares of EV ownership. One relatively low-risk way to test out if an electric car could fit one’s lifestyle is to rent it. Now, a partnership between GM and Hertz is set to bring a slew of Buick, GMC, Cadillac, and Chevrolet vehicles into the former’s rental fleet.
In a short video interview between Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr and GM CEO Mary Barra, the two discuss the partnership and how it’ll move the EV transition forward. Both believe that having the chance to experience driving an EV without having to buy one could speed up adoption. “When people rent this Silverado EV, they’ll realize they’re not giving anything up,” Barra said. “In fact, they’re getting the pep of an EV.”
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“I’m super excited about the opportunity for people to have their first EV experience with Hertz, especially in a GM vehicle. I see it as a launch point to really growing EV adoption,” she continued. That’s the same sort of sentiment that Scherr echoed. “Hertz will be an interesting way to introduce people not just to the Lyriq, but to electric vehicles more broadly,” he said.
Neither company has confirmed exactly how many of what makes and models Hertz will buy. Nevertheless, Barra confirmed that the Silverado EV and the Cadillac Lyriq will be available through Hertz before the end of 2023. Those are in addition to the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV that the rental company already owns and rents.
Scherr says that this is only the first of many interviews he’s planning in a similar style. To that end, we expect more news about the future of the Hertz fleet in the coming weeks and months.