• August 6, 2013

National Car Rental has launched a new app based on research garnered from a cohort of brand loyalists comprising a virtual focus group. The company says it tapped the 300-member "road warrior" group under National's "Emerald Exchange Community" for real-time insights into how it developed the app.

The Saint Louis-based company says the app includes rental tracking for Emerald Club member’s reservations and lets the member modify vehicle options, arrival time or day and payments, for both personal and corporate rentals, a snapshot of the most recent reservation or rental appears on the user’s home page. Members also can receive "EmeraldAlerts" about arrival and return alerts, and "Drop & Go" service with eReceipts through the app.

Another feature, called “Virtual Aisle” that lets them choose a specific-model inventory rental vehicle before arriving at the rental facility. The feature will be piloted in Tulsa, Richmond, and Omaha beginning next month, with a rollout in select locations nationwide expected soon after.

Travelers can download the app – which is designed for use on both Apple and Android devices – by visiting iTunes or Google Play.