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Joe SaundersOne of the first car rental companies
Date of Birth: .
Country:  USA |
Content:
- The Origins of Car Rental
- The First Car Rental Company
- Joe Saunders: The Pioneering Landlord
- Saunders Drive-It-Yourself System
- Pricing and Legacy
The Origins of Car Rental
From ancient Rome, where individuals could hire chariots for a fee, the concept of renting vehicles has existed throughout history. However, the modern car rental industry truly emerged with the advent of the automobile.
The First Car Rental Company
In 1904, a bicycle shop in Minnesota, United States, is credited as one of the first establishments to offer car rentals. In 1912, Sixt was founded in Germany, initially operating with just three vehicles.
Joe Saunders: The Pioneering Landlord
Although definitive proof is lacking, Joe Saunders, a garage owner in Omaha, is widely regarded as the first official car rental pioneer. In 1915, Saunders employed a salesman, Frank Arndt, and began renting Arndt's personal Ford Model T, known as "Tin Lizzie."
Saunders Drive-It-Yourself System
By 1917, Saunders owned 120 Model T's for rental. He advertised in newspapers and enlisted the help of his father and three brothers. In 1927, the Saunders Drive-It-Yourself System expanded to over 85 cities.
Pricing and Legacy
Saunders' ingenious use of an odometer attached to the Ford Model T's wheel allowed him to charge 10 cents per mile. For context, the average salary at the time was $50 per month, and a Model T cost $350 (1917 prices). Saunders quickly became a millionaire but succumbed to the downturn caused by the Great Depression.
