• by Tanya Gazdik , January 21, 2024

Global rental car giant Sixt is dropping Tesla and adding up to 250,000 vehicles from Stellantis for its fleets in North America and overseas. 

Sixt is adding Stellantis brands including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall and Maserati. It will add “city cars to SUVs to vans and trucks (including 7- and 9-seaters)” into its rental fleet, according to the company. 

“The multibillion euro deal will see Stellantis delivering EVs, PHEVs (and gas cars, smh) to Sixt starting this quarter, and it will carry on over the next three years,” according to electrek.

Sixt said it still aims for electric vehicles to make up 70% to 90% of its offerings in Europe by 2030, while Stellantis is aiming for the battery-powered vehicles to make up 50% of its passenger car and light-duty truck sales in the U.S. by the same year, according to theNew York Post. 

Similar to recent moves by Hertz reported by Marketing Daily, Sixt is cutting Teslas from its fleet because of higher repair costs. Also figuring into the decision is Tesla’s huge price cuts which have undercut used car prices – an important revenue source for rental car companies.

“Deliveries for a range of Stellantis' vehicles, from city cars to SUVs to trucks, will commence by the first quarter of 2024 and continue throughout the year,” according to Reuters. 

Sixt also will leverage Mobilisights, Stellantis’ data-as-a-service business, to manage its fleet more efficiently, according toThe Detroit News.

"This partnership with Sixt enables current and potential Stellantis brand customers to immerse themselves in our newest offerings with the most advanced propulsion, vehicle connectivity and thoughtful comfort," Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said in a statement. "It’s the ultimate test drive and a critical checkpoint for us in the upcoming years as Stellantis transforms into a sustainable mobility tech company.”

The move will help get Stellantis brands in front of more potential customers. 

“The agreement will be great for customers who want drive their favorite brands or perhaps try out some of the new vehicles before actually having to buy one,” according to Torque News. “How frequently have you gone to a rental car company to get a vehicle and found that they don’t even carry some of your favorite brands? In some markets, it is hard to rent an American-made vehicle.”

The new vehicles will include a number of fully connected vehicles which means that data such as fuel level and mileage can automatically be transmitted to Sixt when a vehicle is returned. This would allow the rental car company to streamline handling at branches.