Enterprise Holdings
| Company type | Privately held corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Car rental, Mobility services |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founder | Jack C. Taylor |
| Headquarters | Clayton, Missouri , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Europe (France, Spain, Ireland), UK |
Key people | Chrissy Taylor (CEO and President), Andrew Taylor (Executive Chairman) |
| Products | Car rental (Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Alamo Rent a Car), commercial fleet management, used vehicle sales (Enterprise Car Sales), carsharing programs (Enterprise CarShare), commercial truck rentals |
| Website | enterpriseholdings |
Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (operating under the name Enterprise Mobility) is a privately held American corporation based in Clayton, Missouri, within the Greater St. Louis area. It owns several prominent car rental brands such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent a Car. Its services also include commercial fleet management, used vehicle sales through Enterprise Car Sales, carsharing programs, and commercial truck rentals.
Ranking among the top three rental car holding companies in the United States, Enterprise Holdings controls approximately 40% of the market, surpassing rivals like Hertz Global Holdings and Avis Budget Group.
History
The company was founded in 1957 under the name Executive Leasing Company by entrepreneur Jack C. Taylor. In 1969, it was renamed Enterprise to pay tribute to the WWII aircraft carrier on which Taylor served. His guiding principle focused on prioritizing both customer satisfaction and employee welfare to achieve business success.
Originating in St. Louis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car continues to maintain its headquarters there under the stewardship of the Taylor family. It stands as the largest privately owned business and one of the leading employers in the area.
The current holding entity was formed on August 3, 2009, following Enterprise’s acquisition in 2007 of Vanguard Automotive Group, which owned National and Alamo brands. This consolidation established Enterprise Holdings as a dominant industry leader; it was ranked 21st on Forbes’ 2008 list of "Largest Private Companies in America" and advanced to 9th place by 2021.
By 2010, Enterprise had become North America’s largest car rental operator and was uniquely recognized as the only investment-grade company within the sector. Its international presence grew through a partnership with Europcar. The company’s competitive edge largely derives from its strong commitment to customer service excellence and strategic expansion efforts.
Executive history
As of 2010, Andrew Taylor, son of founder Jack Taylor, served as chairman and CEO. On June 4, 2013, Pamela Nicholson made history as the first female CEO and the first leader outside the Taylor family. Andrew Taylor transitioned to Executive Chairman. Upon Nicholson’s retirement at the end of 2019, Chrissy Taylor—then president and COO—was appointed CEO starting January 2020. Chrissy Taylor became the fourth CEO overall and represents the third generation of Taylor family leadership while continuing her role as president.
Mergers and acquisitions
In November 2011, Enterprise revealed plans to purchase Citer SA along with its subsidiary Atesa, which added 30,000 vehicles and expanded operations into France and Spain. That same year, Enterprise acquired PhillyCarShare, which was rebranded as Enterprise CarShare in 2014. Additional car-sharing acquisitions included Mint Cars-On-Demand (2012), I-GO (2013), Occasional Car in Denver (2014), and AutoShare in Toronto (2014).
Enterprise broadened its technology capabilities by acquiring Performance Gateway, LLC in 2014, a provider of SaaS performance management software for network oversight and automotive services. In July 2013, it purchased Zimride’s ride-matching platform. The acquisition of Triangle Rent A Car in Raleigh, North Carolina occurred in 2015, with its integration into Enterprise Rent-a-Car.
In 2017, Enterprise combined Cyncast Inc. and Performance Gateway into ARMS® Business Solutions (ABS), delivering comprehensive management software for insurance providers and repair networks. This system was rebranded as Entegral in October 2019.
The company further extended its global footprint by acquiring Dooley Car Rentals in Ireland (2017) and Deem—a managed travel technology solution serving corporate travelers and travel managers—in 2019. In September 2020, Enterprise added nearly 600 locations to its Canadian network through its acquisition of Discount Car and Truck Rental.
Rebranding and Growth
On October 26, 2023, Enterprise Holdings underwent a rebranding initiative, adopting the name Enterprise Mobility to better represent its shifting strategic direction and expanded range of mobility solutions.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
By 2006, Enterprise Rent-A-Car dominated the industry with $9 billion in revenue. It became part of Enterprise Holdings in 2009. Renowned for promoting from within, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has earned accolades from BusinessWeek as a premier employer for career development and has consistently achieved top rankings in customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power.
Enterprise introduced its inaugural campus-based carsharing service, WeCar, at Washington University in St. Louis in 2008. By 2012, this initiative had grown to over 100 programs spanning 30 states in the U.S. and Canada. The vehicle lineup features electric and plug-in hybrid models such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. In 2013, WeCar was rebranded as Enterprise CarShare.
In March 2014, the acquisition of Toronto’s AutoShare by Enterprise Holdings expanded its Canadian carsharing footprint under the Enterprise CarShare brand.
During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Enterprise CarShare paused operations across major markets including New York, Philadelphia, Honolulu, St. Louis, and numerous university campuses to respond to fluctuating demand.
ONRAMP Concierge
Introduced in 2012, "ONRAMP Concierge" was a mobile concierge service accessible via QR codes placed on rental cars’ driver-side windows. Following a pilot involving 20,000 vehicles in 2011, the service rolled out across nearly all vehicles within Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car, and National Car Rental fleets. The platform offered renters information about their vehicles, promotional offers, and nearby amenities such as gas stations and dining options. This program aimed to enhance vehicle engagement and support sales efforts for automotive manufacturing partners. The ONRAMP Concierge service has since been discontinued; customers now rely on the mobile applications of Alamo, Enterprise, or National for rental management and feedback submission.
Enterprise Center
On May 22, 2018, Enterprise secured naming rights for the Scottrade Center—the home arena of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. Effective July 1, the venue was renamed the Enterprise Center under a 15-year agreement that coincided with arena renovations completed before the start of the 2018–19 NHL season. This branding partnership strengthened Enterprise’s visibility and community ties within its headquarters city.
Relationship with Washington University in St. Louis
Andrew C. Taylor, executive chairman of Enterprise Holdings, serves on the board of trustees at Washington University in St. Louis. His father and company founder, Jack C. Taylor, was both an alumnus and trustee emeritus of the university. The Washington University Enterprise Holdings Scholars Program was launched in 2001 with a $25 million contribution from Enterprise Holdings, followed by an additional $25 million donation from Jack C. Taylor in 2011 aimed at expanding this scholarship initiative.
Vehicle rental divisions
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car – The primary brand focused on “home city” rentals, catering mainly to local customers instead of those arriving at airports
- Alamo Rent A Car – Targets budget-minded leisure travelers
- National Car Rental – Primarily serves business clientele
- Enterprise Truck Rental – Provides rental options for consumer moving trucks and commercial vehicles
- Enterprise Flex-E-Rent – Delivers commercial vehicle rental services within the UK
- Enterprise CarShare – A carsharing program designed for corporate fleet users
- Enterprise Car Club – UK-based carsharing platform
- Exotic Car Collection by Enterprise – Offers luxury and high-end exotic vehicle rentals to consumers
Additional transportation offerings
- Enterprise Car Sales – Sales of pre-owned vehicles
- Commute with Enterprise – Management of vanpool fleets
- Subscribe with Enterprise – Vehicle leasing through subscription plans for consumers
- Enterprise Fleet Management (affiliate) – Provides fleet oversight services for businesses and governmental bodies