Polestar and Hertz announce global partnership - up to 65k EVs will be added to rental fleet

Hertz has signed a deal with Polestar to purchase up to 65,000 electric Polestar 2’s for its global rental fleet. Images: Polestar

Polestar and Hertz have announced a global partnership that will include the purchase of up to 65,000 Polestar 2 EVs over five years. Hertz expects customers will be able to rent a Polestar from this Spring in Europe, and late 2022/early 2023 in Australia and North America.

Hertz has committed to lead the electrification of rental fleets, with the company previously leasing Tesla Model 3s and more recently, Model Ys.

For Hertz, the partnership is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to lead in electrification within the rental vehicle business, as the company targets a digital-first customer experience. The partnership with Polestar builds on Hertz’s announcement last October to offer its customers the largest EV rental fleet in North America and one of the largest in the world. In addition to making the fleet available to its business and leisure customers, Hertz is extending EVs to rideshare drivers as a way to further accelerate electrification.

“We are excited to partner with Polestar and look forward to introducing their premium EV products into our retail and rideshare fleets,” said Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO. “Today’s partnership with Polestar further builds on our ambition to become a leading participant in the modern mobility ecosystem and doing so as an environmentally-forward company. By working with EV industry leaders like Polestar, we can help accelerate the adoption of electrification while providing renters, corporate customers and rideshare partners a premium EV product, exceptional experience and lower carbon footprint.”

“Polestar is committed to accelerating the move to electric mobility with a fascinating and innovative product portfolio,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. “We are delighted that Hertz has chosen Polestar as a strategic partner on their road to electrification. The partnership with a global pioneer like Hertz will bring the amazing experience of driving an electric car to a wider audience, satisfying a broad variety of our mutual customers’ short- and longer-term mobility requirements. For many of them it may be the first time they have driven an EV, and it will be a Polestar.”

Hertz will initially order Polestar 2, and Australians and North Americans can expect to see them available at major metropolitan rental locations before the end of 2022. Europeans will be able to rent a Polestar 2 first, with the fleet upgrade scheduled for Spring this year.