Check out these wheels: car rental companies are conservatively adding new makes and models to their strictly controlled fleets. (Car Rentals).

Travel Agent, December, 2002 by Olearchik, James

As the year draws to an end, car rental companies are already looking to the next year and to the manufacturers' 2003 car makes and models. Once again, the firms are in the midst of updating their fleets and bringing in the newest and most exciting cars for renters to use. And for a travel agent, knowledge of the latest autos available can often help secure a car booking, or even better, convince a renter to upgrade to a higher-class vehicle.

Of course, the fleets have gone through some big changes in the past year. Dollar, Thrifty and Avis say their fleets are just about back to pre-Sept. 11, 200 1, levels, but other companies such as Alamo, National and Payless say that they are still operating with smaller fleets.

The tighter cost control and...

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