Avis Southern Africa

What Avis Southern Africa does

Avis Southern Africa is a privately held car rental company headquartered in Johannesburg, operating as a franchisee/licensee of the global Avis Budget Group brand. The firm provides short-term passenger and commercial vehicle rentals plus long-term car subscriptions across South Africa and select SADC markets (Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique), drawing on a network of 30+ physical branches including airport counters at OR Tambo, Cape Town International, King Shaka, Kruger Mpumalanga, and several secondary airports, alongside downtown and suburban sites in every South African province.

Its underlying technology stack is a vehicle rental management platform combining an integrated booking engine (avis.co.za), native iOS/Android apps, the QuickPass pre-registration module, the Avis Preferred loyalty system, and add-on IoT services including GPS navigation (with 1,000+ cities/759 rural towns mapping) and Mobile Wi-Fi (MTN-powered, up to 10 devices). The Avis SafeDrive smartphone app layers impact detection, a panic button, weather alerts, and driving-behaviour scoring on top of the rental product. The portfolio is diversified across consumer and corporate channels — luxury rentals (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi), 4x4 and overlanding safari vehicles, van and truck rental, chauffeur-driven services, group transport for events, and Avis Fleet for corporate fleet management — with revenue generated through daily/weekly/monthly rentals, subscription plans from R5,670/month, usage-based add-ons (R120–R150/day), and Avis Car Sales disposing of ex-rental vehicles.

Name

Avis Southern Africa

Legal name

Avis Rent a Car

Website

https://avis.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Avis Southern Africa is South Africa's leading car rental company and a franchisee of the global Avis Budget Group, providing short-term and long-term vehicle rental, luxury, van, chauffeur, and safari vehicle hire to leisure travellers, corporate accounts, SMMEs, and tourists across 30+ South African branches and select SADC markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices34 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Rental: Core car and van rental services offered on daily, weekend, weekly and monthly basis. Includes various vehicle categories from economy to luxury cars, 4x4s, and safari vehicles
2. Rental Add-ons and Extras: Additional revenue from GPS navigation (R140/day), Mobile Wi-Fi (R120-135/day), bicycle racks (R150/day), child safety seats, additional drivers, fuel pre-purchase options, and travel accessories
3. Long-term Subscriptions: Monthly car subscription plans starting from R5,670 per month with 2,500km included. Offers flexible mobility options without rigid vehicle finance
4. Chauffeur and Premium Services: Chauffeur-driven services for airport transfers, executive travel, and luxury transportation
5. Corporate Accounts: Dedicated corporate reservation systems, company travel accounts, and group transport services for conferences and events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Avis Southern Africa is a car rental company providing short-term and long-term rental of passenger cars and commercial vehicles across South Africa and neighbouring SADC countries. It offers a fleet ranging from economy to luxury vehicles, vans, 4x4s and safari vehicles, complemented by add-on services, chauffeur options, and corporate fleet solutions.

Product overview

Avis Southern Africa operates as South Africa's leading car rental company offering a comprehensive mobility platform with its core car rental service supported by multiple specialized modules and add-on services. The core offering includes vehicles across economy to luxury categories, complemented by long-term subscription options, commercial van rental, chauffeur-driven services, and specialty safari vehicle rental. The product portfolio integrates technology-enabled services including QuickPass for expedited pickup, Avis SafeDrive for safety monitoring, GPS navigation, and Mobile Wi-Fi. A loyalty program (Avis Preferred) provides recurring customer benefits, while additional services cover child safety equipment, bicycle racks, and accessibility solutions. The company also operates Avis Fleet for corporate clients and Avis Car Sales for vehicle transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Avis Preferred: Free loyalty programme offering priority service, 10% discount on future rentals, and exclusive partner offers.
• Avis Fleet
• Avis Car Sales
• Avis SafeDrive
• Avis QuickPass

Products and services

• Avis Car Rental Core car rental service offering vehicles across various categories including economy, compact, intermediate, standard, full-size, premium, and specialty vehicles at locations throughout South Africa and Southern Africa.
• Long-term Car Hire / Subscriptions Flexible monthly car rental options with rates from R5,670 per month including 2,500 km, offering an alternative to vehicle finance with hassle-free driving.
• Luxury Car Hire Premium vehicle rental featuring curated luxury vehicles including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and other prestige brands for comfort, prestige, and performance.
• Van Rental Commercial vehicle rental including vans, bakkies, 4x4s, and trucks for business and personal use with options for monthly hire.
• Chauffeur Driven Services Professional driver services for airport transfers, executive travel, and tailored transportation experiences with luxury vehicles.
• Safari Vehicles Specialty vehicle rental for safari and overlanding adventures, featuring fully equipped overlanding vehicles for Kruger National Park and other wildlife destinations.
• Avis Fleet - Vehicle Solutions Fleet management and vehicle solutions for businesses, providing total mobility solutions for corporate clients.
• Avis Car Sales Program allowing customers to sell their used vehicles to Avis and to buy ex-rental vehicles, offering an easy process to sell or buy cars.
• QuickPass Time-saving free pre-registration service allowing customers to bypass standard counter processes for faster vehicle collection.
• Avis Preferred Free loyalty program offering 10% discount on future rentals, priority service, exclusive partner offers, and access to preferential treatment at locations worldwide.
• Avis SafeDrive Smartphone-based safety and rewards system (Android and iOS) with ImpactAlert accident detection, panic button, severe weather alerts, 24-hour emergency call centre access, and driving behaviour scoring that unlocks daily rewards. Priced at R20 per day.
• GPS Navigation Satellite navigation system rental featuring turn-by-turn directions on all South African roads including 1000+ cities and 759 rural towns, priced at R140 per day.
• Mobile Wi-Fi Portable Wi-Fi device rental providing wireless internet access for up to 10 devices with 1GB data per day on MTN network, priced at R135 per day.
• Child Safety Seats Rental of baby seats, child seats, and booster seats for families traveling with young children, compliant with South African child restraint laws.
• Bicycle Racks Bicycle rack rental for R150 per day enabling transport of bikes on rental vehicles for cycling enthusiasts.
• Disability Vehicles / Hand Controls Vehicles equipped with hand controls for disabled drivers, available on Group E and H vehicles with 72-hour advance notice required.
• Avis First Premium meet-and-greet service where Avis staff meet customers at airport arrival and departure for expedited service.
• Avis Mobile Apps Mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling booking, managing reservations, and accessing Avis services on the go.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10% discount on future rentals for Avis Preferred members
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• eBuckscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering eBucks members up to 40% discount on domestic Avis car rentals. FNB or RMB Private Bank customers also benefit from reduced super waiver rates and free additional driver on weekend bookings. Bookings made through eBucks Travel online.
• Multiply RewardscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing Multiply members with tiered discounts up to 40% on Avis car rental based on membership status (Starter 7.5% to Private Club 40%). Includes priority member service with Avis Preferred.
• ClubRedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive rewards programme for South African travel agents. Members earn ClubRed Roses for qualifying reservations, redeemable for rewards. New members receive 20 Roses on registration.
• Avis Preferred (Multiply Integration)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiply members receive priority service with Avis Preferred including dedicated online tools, dedicated phone number, and Preferred Service counters for faster service.
• Avis FleetcoreOthersRelated entity providing vehicle fleet solutions. Website reference at avisfleet.co.za for commercial fleet management services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Woodford Car Rental: South African car rental brand with airport and city presence including long-term rentals; serves overlapping leisure and corporate customers with comparable fleet categories. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Sixt Rent a Car (South Africa): Premium-positioned global rental brand with growing South African presence at major airports; comparable premium and fleet rental products targeting similar leisure and corporate segments. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Bidvest Mobility (Car Rental): South African conglomerate-owned rental and fleet management business with national airport and corporate coverage; competes directly on short-term rental, long-term hire, and fleet leasing. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Thrifty Car Rental South Africa: Value-tier global brand with South African franchise network; competes for cost-conscious leisure and corporate travelers across the same airports and tourist destinations. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• First Car Rental: South African-owned car rental operator with national airport and city presence, competing on value and local-service positioning; comparable product breadth including commercial and luxury rentals. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Tempest Car Hire: South African-owned short-term car rental operator with airport and city branches, focusing on leisure and corporate customers in similar geographies. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Hertz South Africa: Direct competitor offering short-term and long-term car rental across South Africa's major airports and cities; comparable product mix, customer segments, and franchise-style operating model. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Europcar South Africa: Global car rental brand with parallel short-term rental, long-term hire, and commercial van offerings across South African airports; competes head-to-head with Avis on leisure and corporate accounts. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)
• Budget Rent a Car South Africa: Sister brand under the same Avis Budget Group umbrella, targeting value-oriented leisure and small-business renters across South Africa; shares parent standards and overlapping branch network. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)

Broad incumbents

• Avis Budget Group: Global parent brand and industry incumbent; while not a direct competitor within South Africa, it is the franchisor and sets product, technology, and pricing standards that Avis Southern Africa operates under. (Peer: Avis Southern Africa)

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/avissouthafrica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AvisSouthAfrica
• Facebookfacebook.com/avisSouthAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeda-southern-africa
• Instagraminstagram.com/avissouthafrica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avis Southern Africa