Car rental firm warns that prices could rise by up to 30%
Car hire prices could rise by as much as 30% this summer due to global car shortages brought on by the crisis in Japan.
This is the prediction of leisure car hire broker, Holiday Autos, who says popular destinations such as France will be particularly affected.
Cars used in France, mainly Peugeots, rely heavily on car parts manufactured in Japan where many plants have slowed or ceased manufacturing altogether due to the earthquake and tsunami.
Malaga is also very likely to see some disruption, Holiday Autos claimed.
Managing director Stuart Nassos said: “There’s no doubt that the industry will feel the effects of the car manufacturing slowdown. To what extent prices will be impacted we don’t fully know yet, but we think it is very likely that they will rise.
“We also expect that the recent civil unrest in Northern Africa, including popular holiday hotspots like Egypt and Tunisia, will drive customers back to ‘failsafe’ destinations such as Spain and France.
“As these destinations could be heavily impacted by car shortages, this is likely to affect car hire availability in popular locations and push up prices. If you’re travelling to popular destinations across Europe including France and Spain this summer, we strongly advise you book your hire car as soon as possible to avoid being disappointed”.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025