Xpress Centres announces new Enterprise partnership

Xpress Centres has announced an industry-first partnership with Enterprise to provide customers with an Enterprise Car Club vehicle while their own car is being repaired.

The bodyshop group is replacing part of its existing fleet of courtesy cars with car club vehicles. These will be based on site at its network of 42 locations, and be available to all customers.

The vehicles have fully automated access so drivers can open them with just a mobile phone. They can be borrowed by the hour or day and can also be used by local residents and businesses needing a vehicle.

The Xpress Centre can book a car club vehicle for customers that know that they will need a car at the same time that they book their car repair on the phone. The customer is given temporary Enterprise Car Club membership for the duration of their booking. Meanwhile, customers who prefer not to book in advance and then find they want to pick up a vehicle can join up on site.

Craig O’Shaughnessy, chief operating officer at Xpress Centres, said: “We’ve been looking for the most effective way to provide replacement vehicles to our customers as many only want to borrow a car for an hour or so while their own is in for repair. Providing Enterprise Car Club vehicles means we can offer customers the latest, low emission vehicles without the hassle and cost of managing a fleet on site. It also means we can offer vehicles to all customers, whether or not they’re at fault.”

In response to Covid-19, Enterprise introduced its Complete Clean Pledge to enhance how vehicles are thoroughly cleaned between each rental. This includes washing, vacuuming and sanitising with a disinfectant that meets leading health authority requirements, with particular attention to more than 20 high-touch points.

Dan Gursel, managing director of Enterprise Car Club, said: “This is a great example of how a car club can provide immediate access to vehicles in the most efficient and convenient way possible. A car club is a great way for bodyshops to keep customers on the road during a repair.

“It also means Xpress Centres can offer an additional service to customers in the form of more long-term membership to Enterprise Car Club, which offers access to vehicles all across the country. Many repairers still manage their own courtesy car fleets and working with rental providers instead is a straightforward way to lower their costs and admin burden while also improving their level of customer service.”