AUTONATION, the US owner of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car, has announced plans to separate the rental businesses from its group. A statement said: 'The board is exploring various strategic alternatives regarding the form of separation.'

Geoff Corbett, executive vice-president of Republic Industries International (parent of the rental firms outside North America), said the changes would take a few months to come to fruition and that flotation on the New York Stock Exchange was the most likely outcome. It would be 'business as usual' for UK market leader NCR, Alamo and Guy Salmon.