Europcar
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA French international vehicle-rental brand offering leisure, business, commercial-vehicle and mobility services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Europcar is a French vehicle-rental brand and the principal operating name of Europcar Mobility Group. The business began in Paris in 1949 as The Automobile Subscription, founded by Raoul-Louis Mattei; the Europcars brand name was introduced in 1951. From an initial subscription and rental concept, the company developed into a multinational network serving leisure travelers, corporate customers, replacement-vehicle users and users seeking flexible access to cars, vans and other vehicles. The company’s ownership has changed several times. Between 1970 and 1988 it was associated with Renault, Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits and Accor. Volkswagen Group progressively acquired Europcar from 1998 and made it a wholly owned subsidiary in 1999. Eurazeo purchased the company from Volkswagen in 2006, supporting a period of international expansion and portfolio development. Europcar subsequently pursued a broader mobility strategy alongside its traditional rental operations, including the acquisition of Ubeeqo in 2015, a business focused on corporate car sharing and fleet mobility. During the second half of the 2010s, Europcar expanded through acquisitions in several segments and geographies. It acquired GuidaMi in Italy, Europcar Denmark and Buchbinder in Germany in 2017, and bought the low-cost rental operator Goldcar later that year. In 2018, Ubeeqo acquired Scooty, a Belgian electric scooter-sharing business. Europcar also acquired Fox Rent A Car in 2019, strengthening its presence in the United States. These transactions broadened the group beyond a single conventional rental proposition and added low-cost rental, local brands, corporate mobility and urban mobility capabilities. The brand’s principal commercial activity remains vehicle rental. It operates through company-owned locations, franchises, partnerships and travel-industry distribution channels. Its offer includes short-term rentals for holidays and business travel, longer rentals, van and commercial-vehicle hire, and mobility products intended for companies and urban users. Keddy is the group’s leisure-oriented sub-brand. Fleet composition, availability and service formats vary by market and location. Europcar’s geographic reach covers Europe, North America, Western Asia and Africa, with the group describing its network as extending to about 140 countries. The holding company’s head office is located in the Val Saint-Quentin business park at Voisins-le-Bretonneux in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines area of France. The company has also used partnerships and sponsorships to build visibility, including longstanding involvement in road cycling and other sports. The business experienced significant pressure during the COVID-19 disruption to international travel and filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in 2020 as part of a restructuring process in France. In July 2021, Green Mobility Holding announced an agreement to acquire Europcar Mobility Group. The transaction closed in June 2022, and Europcar became privately owned by the consortium led by Volkswagen Group, Attestor and Pon Holdings. Europcar therefore remains an active international rental and mobility brand, but is no longer a publicly traded standalone company.
History
Europcar traces its origins to Paris in 1949, when Raoul-Louis Mattei established a business called The Automobile Subscription. The company introduced the Europcars brand in 1951. Its early model combined vehicle access with rental and subscription concepts, and the business expanded during the postwar growth of automobile travel. After roughly two decades of development, Europcar entered a period of ownership by major transportation, automotive and hospitality groups. From 1970 to 1988, Renault, Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits and Accor were associated with the company. Volkswagen Group began acquiring Europcar progressively in 1998 and completed the process in 1999, making the rental company a wholly owned subsidiary. Volkswagen sold Europcar to the French investment company Eurazeo in 2006. Under Eurazeo ownership, the company pursued international growth and developed a wider mobility proposition. In 2010, Europcar partnered with Daimler in connection with the launch of the Car2Go service in Hamburg. The group later expanded into corporate car sharing through its 2015 acquisition of Ubeeqo. Philippe Germond, previously associated with PMU, became Europcar’s chief executive in October 2015. The company accelerated its acquisition strategy during 2017 and 2018. It acquired GuidaMi in Milan, Europcar Denmark and German rental company Buchbinder. In December 2017, it completed the acquisition of Goldcar, a low-cost rental operator with a substantial leisure presence. Through Ubeeqo, Europcar acquired Belgian electric scooter-sharing start-up Scooty in 2018. In 2019, Europcar acquired Fox Rent A Car, one of the larger independent rental businesses in the United States. Europcar also used brand partnerships and sponsorships to support recognition. It became involved in sports sponsorship during the 1980s, including motorsport, rallying, golf, horse racing and marathons. From 2011, it sponsored the French professional cycling team known as Team Europcar. In 2014, Europcar UK became Arsenal Football Club’s official car and van rental partner under a three-year agreement. The company joined the United Nations Global Compact in 2005 and promoted environmental and reforestation initiatives, including its Green Charter programme and cooperation with WeForest. The company faced serious financial pressure in 2020 as travel restrictions reduced demand for rental vehicles. It filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the context of a French restructuring process. On 28 July 2021, Green Mobility Holding, a consortium led by Volkswagen Group together with Attestor and Pon Holdings, announced an agreement to acquire Europcar Mobility Group. The transaction closed in June 2022. Europcar is now an active privately owned international rental and mobility group operating under the Green Mobility Holding structure.
- 2022
Acquisition by Green Mobility Holding completed
[1]Green Mobility Holding completed its acquisition of Europcar Mobility Group in June.
- 2020
Restructuring and Chapter 15 filing
[1]Europcar filed for Chapter 15 protection during a restructuring prompted by the travel-market crisis.
- 2019
Fox Rent A Car acquired
[1]Europcar acquired Fox Rent A Car in the United States.
- 2017
Goldcar acquisition completed
[1]Europcar completed its acquisition of low-cost rental operator Goldcar.
- 2015
Ubeeqo acquired
[1]Europcar acquired Ubeeqo to develop corporate car sharing and mobility services.
- 2006
Eurazeo acquired Europcar
[1]Eurazeo purchased Europcar from Volkswagen Group.
- 2005
Joined the United Nations Global Compact
[1]Europcar joined the UN Global Compact and adopted its ten fundamental principles.
- 1999
Volkswagen became sole owner
[1]Volkswagen Group completed its progressive acquisition of Europcar and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.
- 1970
New corporate ownership period began
[1]Europcar entered a period of ownership involving Renault, Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits and Accor.
- 1951
Europcars brand introduced
[1]The Europcars name was created for the company’s vehicle-rental business.
Products and positioning
International, service-led vehicle rental and mobility provider serving leisure, business and corporate customers across multiple price and usage segments.
Short-term vehicle rental
Europcar car rental
The core Europcar service provides cars for leisure, business, airport, city and replacement-vehicle use. Customers generally rent vehicles for periods ranging from a day to several weeks, with availability and fleet composition varying across countries and locations.
Commercial-vehicle rental
Europcar van and commercial-vehicle rental
Europcar offers vans and other commercial vehicles for household moves, deliveries, tradespeople and business transport. This line extends the brand beyond passenger-car travel and serves both individual and corporate users.
Leisure rental sub-brand
Keddy
Keddy is Europcar’s leisure-oriented rental sub-brand. It is positioned as a separate consumer proposition within the group’s broader rental network, particularly for travel-related and holiday vehicle hire.
Corporate mobility and car sharing · 2015
Ubeeqo
Ubeeqo focuses on corporate car sharing and fleet mobility. Its integration into the Europcar group reflected the company’s attempt to complement conventional rentals with digitally managed, flexible access to vehicles.
Controversies
2017
UK damage-repair overcharging investigation
Leicester Trading Standards raided Europcar’s English offices and referred a matter to the Serious Fraud Office over allegations concerning customer charges for repairing damage to hire vehicles.
2014
Australian franchisee damage-charge case
The Australian Federal Court found that a Tasmanian Europcar franchisee had engaged in unconscionable conduct and made false or misleading representations when charging customers for rental-vehicle damage.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Arsenal official car and van rental partnership
United Kingdom
Europcar UK became Arsenal Football Club’s official car and van rental partner under a three-year agreement.
Outcome. The partnership linked the brand with a prominent international football club and its UK customer base.
- 2011Team Europcar cycling sponsorship
France · Europe
Europcar began sponsoring the French professional road-cycling team managed by Jean-René Bernaudeau. The team carried the Europcar name, giving the brand sustained visibility in professional cycling.
Outcome. The sponsorship received the Sporsora Sponsor of the Year award.
- 1980Multi-sport sponsorship programme
International
Europcar developed sports sponsorship activities spanning motorsport, the Paris-Dakar rally, golf, horse racing and marathons.
Outcome. The programme supported broad consumer awareness of the rental brand.
Brand decisions
2022
Accepted acquisition by Green Mobility HoldingM&ABackground
Following the restructuring period, Europcar entered a transaction intended to place the group under a consortium combining automotive, investment and mobility interests.
Action taken
Green Mobility Holding, led by Volkswagen Group, Attestor and Pon Holdings, completed the acquisition in June 2022.
Aftermath
Europcar became privately owned and returned to a corporate structure connected to Volkswagen Group.
2020
Restructured during the COVID-19 travel crisisStrategyBackground
Travel restrictions and the collapse in international mobility placed substantial pressure on vehicle-rental demand.
Action taken
Europcar pursued restructuring in France and filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection.
Aftermath
The restructuring preceded the later acquisition of the group by Green Mobility Holding.
2019
Strengthened United States operations through Fox Rent A CarM&ABackground
Europcar wanted to expand its presence in the US, one of the world’s largest vehicle-rental markets.
Action taken
The group acquired Fox Rent A Car.
Aftermath
The acquisition increased Europcar’s access to US customers and locations.
2017
Expanded into low-cost rental through GoldcarM&ABackground
The group aimed to increase scale and cover additional price segments in leisure vehicle rental.
Action taken
Europcar completed the acquisition of Goldcar, a low-cost rental operator.
Aftermath
The transaction added a value-focused rental business to Europcar’s portfolio.
Enterprise value. €550 million (2017 transaction)
2015
Entered corporate car sharing through UbeeqoStrategyBackground
Europcar sought to broaden its traditional rental model into flexible corporate mobility and shared vehicle access.
Action taken
The group acquired Ubeeqo, a company specializing in corporate car sharing.
Aftermath
Ubeeqo became part of the group’s wider mobility strategy and later served as the vehicle for the Scooty acquisition.
Recent events
Reported
Europcar Mobility Group announces €500 million notes offering[3]
Europcar Mobility Group announced an offering of €500 million in sustainability-linked senior secured notes due 2026, subject to market and other conditions. The proceeds and cash on hand are intended for early redemption of existing 2022 notes and related costs.
Reported
Volkswagen-led consortium discusses acquiring Europcar[4]
Europcar confirmed that it was discussing an acquisition offer from a consortium led by Volkswagen, together with Attestor Capital and Pon Holdings. The reported proposed price was €0.50 per share; the deal had not been finalized.
Reported
easyJet extends media partnership with Europcar[5]
easyJet and Europcar extended their relationship through a media partnership under which Europcar would be promoted to passengers across easyJet touchpoints.
Sources6 sources
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