New Full Expensing Coalition Launched
ACRA — and several ACRA members, including Avis, Enterprise and Hertz – have joined with other stakeholders in a new advocacy coalition to preserve full expensing of personal property – the Economic Investment Alliance (www.investmentalliance.org). Full expensing, which will begin to sunset in 2023 to 80%, was enacted as part of the 2017 tax reform law and for some stakeholders, like car rental companies, replaced like kind exchanges as a means of deferring otherwise taxable income. The new coalition is looking for additional members, including small businesses with a “story” to tell on the impact of the full expensing sunset on their investment, growth and hiring plans. There is no cost to joining the Alliance, but supporters will be expected to have their names and logos featured on the coalition’s website. If an ACRA member is interested in joining the coalition, please contact Greg Scott at gscott@merevir.com. The coalition’s formation garnered some media coverage “inside the Beltway – attached (EIA Media).
Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Busted
On March 22, 2023, the Department of Justice and FBI released the details in the 2022 actions taken to break up a half billion dollar a year catalytic converter theft ring (DOJ/FBI Release). ACRA has worked with state and federal law enforcement, as well as with other stakeholders in support of a federal catalytic converter theft law, to prevent the catalytic converter thefts that have plagued many in the car rental industry.
Carlos Bazan Elected to ACRA’s Board of Directors
Carlos Bazan of L.A. Auto Spot was unanimously re-elected to join ACRA’s Board of Directors at the Board’s February 17, 2023 meeting. Mr. Bazan will serve the remainder of the term left vacant by his previous resignation from the Board when his prior employer ceased operations.
U.S. Department of Energy Official to Keynote ACRA Session at ICRS
Alycia Gilde will be the keynote speaker for the ACRA session at the 2023 International Car Rental Show in Las Vegas in April. Ms. Gilde will be joined by ACRA President Sharky Laguana, who will present a brief “State of the Association” report.
Ms. Gilde is the National Manager for ZEV Partnerships and Engagement for the Technology Integration Program under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). In this role, Ms. Gilde oversees initiatives to advance transportation decarbonization by fostering partnership development and engagement across all stakeholder groups including communities, tribes, industry, fleets, utilities, state and federal government, and non-governmental organizations to advance zero-emission vehicle deployment. Technology Integration activities include Clean Cities, EcoCAR, Clean Energy to Communities, and the Battery Workforce Development Initiative, as well as other efforts under VTO.
Prior to joining DOE, Ms. Gilde was CALSTART’s Vice President of clean fuels and electric vehicle infrastructure and oversaw the initiative’s wide portfolio of activities that included spearheading the United States’ largest initiatives to deploy alternative fuel corridors; first of its kind incentive programs for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure; and innovative public-private partnerships to advance zero-emission vehicles and equipment. Ms. Gilde has extensive experience managing the nation’s largest freight and clean port truck programs, corridor coalitions, and marketing and outreach initiatives to build capacity and impact for clean transportation.
2023 ACRAPAC Reception at ICRS
The American Car Rental Assocation Political Action Committee will again host a private cocktail reception at the 2023 International Car Rental Show – this time on Monday evening, April 17, 2023 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (2023 ACRAPAC Vegas Flyer). Back by popular demand – ACRA President Sharky Laguana on the piano. The reception will be open only to 2023 ACRAPAC contributors. Please contact Sharon Faulkner at sfaulkner@acraorg.com or Greg Scott at gscott@merevir.com for more information on ACRAPAC and the 2023 Reception.
State AGs Weigh in on “Right to Repair”
A bi-partisan group of state attorneys general sent a letter to Congress urging the enactment of so-called “right to repair” legislation – including legislation to lock in a vehicle owner’s right to choose where to have a vehicle repaired – at a branded dealership or an independent garage (AG R2R Letter). While ACRA continues to conceptually supports one of the goals of the AGs – guaranteeing access to vehicle repair and maintenance data by vehicle owners – ACRA has joined with other fleet associations in remaining neutral on federal right to repair legislation and is pressing for more comprehensive federal vehicle data access legislation through the Congressional Vehicle Data Access Caucus.
The 2023 ICRS will be held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, NV from April 16 – 18, 2023. Save the date and plan to join your international car rental colleagues in Vegas for yet another great conference! Be Advised! When ACRA members register for the 2023 ICRS, they must contact Sharon Faulkner before registering to obtain the registration discount code for ACRA members. If you register for the 2023 ICRS and then try to secure the ACRA member discount, your request will not be permitted. So, rejoin ACRA, get the ACRA discount code prior to registering for ICRS, and enjoy the full benefits of your ACRA membership! Click Here To Register.
2023 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference – Get Ready!
Based on the success of last year’s 2022 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference, the ACRA Board in March locked in plans for a 2023 D.C. conference. Details and registration procedures will be released after the 2023 ICRS, but a draft schedule is attached (2023 ACRA DC Conference Schedule). Please mark your calendars for October 22 — 25, 2023 and plan to join your ACRA colleagues in Washington, D.C.
ACRA Membership Activity
New Regular Operator Members:
- Always On Point Car Rental, Willemstad, Curacao
- Cheap Rent a Car, Inc., Panama City
- Country Car Rentals, Inc., LaJunta, CO
- Darryl Watson Motors LLC dba U-Save Car & Truck Rental, Lawrenceburg, TN
- Lucayan Car Rental, Nassau, Bahamas
- Non Stop Loaners, Brooklyn, NY
- On-Site Rental Cars, Tyler, TX
- P&A Investments, Inc. dba Aiona U-Rent A Car, Hilo, HI
- Quest Car Rental, Medford, NJ
- Super Deal Auto Group LLC, Columbus, OH
Europcar Mobility Group, Paris, France
Fleetwire, LLC, Shendon, WY
Hub International, Culver City, CA
Rate Driven Solutions, Colorado Springs, CO
United Leasing & Finance, Evansville, IN
Universal Casualty Risk Retention Group, Inc., Jericho, NY
Associate Supplier Member Renewals: EcoClear Products, Inc., Lakewood Ranch, FL
enDrive, LLC, San Diego, CA
Finalrentals, Poland
Geotab Inc., Oakville, Canada
Sonoran National Insurance Group, Scottsdale, AZ
W.S. Tierney & Co., Newtown Square, PA
Regular Operator Member Renewals:
- AAA Rent A Van dba State Van Rental, Auburn, MA
- Aero Corporation, Budget, PA
- Americars Auto Rental, Miami, FL
- Amerimex Auto of GA, Inc Roswell, GA
- Autoteam, Inc., South Amboy, NJ
- Avis Alaska Rent A Car, Anchorage, Alaska
- Cali Car Share, Long Beach, CA
- Carolina Rent a Car, Rocky Mount, NC
- Carretela Auto Rental, Auburn, MA
- Denver Auto Rentals LLC, Aurora, CO
- Fox Rent a Car, CA
- Hart Leasing, Inc. dba Avis Car Rental License, IA
- Hertz Rocky Mountain Transportation, Inc. Whitefish, MT
- Jay Harland Corp dba Sixt Rent a Car, Hartford, CT
- LA Auto Spot, Hawthorne, CA
- Nashville Van Rentals, Nashville, TN
- PML Car Rental, Los Angeles, CA
