BRITAIN's car hire industry was shaken up this week following Avis Europe's £40 million acquisition of credit hire and non-fault claims management company 3 Arrows and Enterprise Rent-A-Car's purchase of Hampshire-based Churchfields Vehicle Rentals for an undisclosed sum. Avis Europe's acquisition takes it into the bodyshop and insurance vehicle sector, while Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which specialises in supplying hire cars to bodyshops and insurance companies, moves into the pure daily rental sector.

Manchester-based 3 Arrows runs a fleet of 1,500 vehicles which it rents to non-fault parties involved in road accidents, recouping the costs directly from the guilty parties' insurers. Avis Europe has expanded its replacement car business by 20% in the last year and has been actively seeking to expand its business in this sector. 3 Arrows will continue to trade under the same name, but will benefit from Avis Europe's financial standing, car rental technology and fleet logistics.