First Car Rental of South Africa now debuts in Tanzania

A portrait of the slain Bafana-Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa is held high during a memorial service in Johannesburg on October 30, 2014 where the memory of Meyiwa and of Olympic Champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi  and Phindile Mwelase were celebrated in one of the darkest month of South Africa sport history. PHOTO | AFP 

 

By The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

Currently, First Car Rental offer car hire in over 100 countries and 4,500 locations. The fleet of the budget car rental company ranges from no-frills models to top-of-the-range luxury cars.

Dar es Salaam. One of the top car rental brands in Africa, First Car Rental of South Africa, has debuted operations in the country through partnering with Skylink Rent A Car Ltd of Dar es Salaam.

The joint operation, which officially started on October 1, is expected to boost business and services in the country’s budding car hire industry. The company has started its operations by creating 50 jobs and the number is set to further increase at the end of next year.

“The car hire industry is a fast growing sector, which has operators ranging from small firms with two vehicles up to large companies with fleets of 200 cars,” the managing director of Skylink, Mr Moustafa Khataw said.

“Our rebranding to First Car Rental and partnership with an international brand is, therefore, a positive and timely development as Tanzania readies to become a gas economy and a financial and commercial hub in the region,” he added.

Before the rebranding and partnership with the South African company, Skylink was trading as Avis Tanzania.

Currently, First Car Rental offer car hire in over 100 countries and 4,500 locations. The fleet of the budget car rental company ranges from no-frills models to top-of-the-range luxury cars.

In South Africa, where it offers specials for holidays, weddings and airport transfers, it has more than 6,000 vehicles in use and 49 car rental branches, including branches at all major South African airports, business and tourist destinations.

First Car Rental has been in business for 15 years and employs 468 people. It is partner in Tanzania has been in business for 14 years and invested about $2 million (about Sh3.2 billion) in the enterprise.

“As of October 1, we have been operating under the brand name First Car Rental. Apart from the trading name change, the business legal name, ownership and framework remains the same - Skylink Rent A Car Ltd,” Mr Khataw said.