Support The Moscow Times!

Hertz Car Rental Exits Russia After Two Decades

Rebecca Cook / Reuters

Car rental company Hertz is exiting the Russian market, more than twenty years after it first came to the country.

Hertz's website no longer lists Russia as a rental location and telephone calls to its Russian branch went unanswered on Thursday.

“Richmont transport services,” Hertz's franchise in Russia, filed for bankruptcy in mid-August, the RBC outlet reported on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport told RBC Hertz was no longer operational there.

In written comments to the Moscow Times, Hertz confirmed it was no longer operating in Russia, but said it would "honor all existing car rental reservations through a local firm."

"Hertz is currently in discussions with potential partners for long term representation in the country," it added.

Hertz’s failure in Russia is the result of rising prices, strict rental conditions and the emergence of car sharing services, RBC cited an analyst for the “Alor Broker” company, Kirill Yakovenko, as saying.

“Meanwhile, Hertz has had competition from mobile taxi service apps, which have made car rental services unprofitable,” he said, adding Hertz’s profits in 2016 amounted to 43,000 rubles ($720). 

Hertz first came to Russia in 1996, setting up shop in 16 Russian cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Ufa as well as an office in Crimea’s Simferopol, according to the company’s website.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more