Sixt Group has reported pre-tax profits of EUR 28 million in Q3, while rental revenue was down by 3% year-on-year in the same period and down 2.8% after nine months.

Leasing revenue reached EUR 103.5 million, a fall of 3.4% on the prior-year quarter, and revenue from the sale of used leasing vehicles fell by 14.4% from EUR 71.2 million in the previous year to EUR 60.9 million.

Consolidated revenue in the third quarter was down 11.3% year-on-year, but up 5.1% on Q2 2009 and up 13.3% on Q1 2009.

Erich Sixt, chairman of the managing board, said: “The satisfactory demand in the first nine months shows that the need for mobility among companies and private individuals is not declining – even in an economic crisis.

“In addition, we are profiting more and more from the positive effects of our cautious rental fleet planning.

“In line with this, Sixt took a major step forward in its earnings situation in the third quarter. This makes us confident that we can achieve our earnings target for full year 2009.”

In the period from January to September 2009, Sixt added a total of 96,400 vehicles with a total value of EUR 2.20 billion to its rental and leasing fleet.

This represents a decline in 20% in the number of vehicles and 21% in the investment volume. The reductions are due to the group’s cautious fleet policy in view of the uncertain economic environment.