Thrifty operator launches own vehicle rental brand Switch

The operator of Thrifty Car and Van Rental in the UK, the Scot Group, is launching its own vehicle rental business, Switch, to operate alongside the brand.

Thrifty’s new sister brand will offer flexible car and van rental services to businesses and personal customers, with a focus on responding to the quickly changing needs of the market and on customer satisfaction.

The ability of the new Scot Group-owned business to pivot, according to market conditions and fleet demand, compared to the Thrifty franchise, was the determining factor in its launch.

Speaking to Fleet News prior to Switch’s official launch today (Wednesday, June 5), Martin Wilson, managing director of the Scot Group, said: “Thrifty is a fantastic brand for us, and I think we’ve built it up into a very well-respected business. But, during covid we realised that we need to be as agile as possible going forward.”

He explained: “We realised we needed to have a brand that we actually owned.

“We can dictate how that brand develops and how we then move that into different markets.”

Wilson stressed that the Scot Group would continue to operate the Thrifty franchise alongside the new Switch business and would do so for “years to come”.

Scot Group’s existing 90 Thrifty sites will be dual branded as well as its vehicle fleet. That work is underway, with Heathrow one of the first dual-branded sites.

“Initially, customers won’t see a huge difference between the two businesses, but as we develop the Switch brand with customer input, we will be offering more products from Switch rather than Thrifty,” continued Wilson.

However, he said: “As far as our Thrifty customers are concerned, they won’t see any difference at all. It’ll be business as usual with the same level of service etc.”

With organisations having to accommodate different employee mobility requirements, driven by hybrid working patterns post covid, Switch says it will offer a range of flexible rental provision, including short term, long term and flexi-rental, while planning to introduce further mobility solutions as the market requires.

Wilson told Fleet News: “I think it is about time something fresh came into the marketplace. Switch gives us that opportunity to look at other areas of business now. It’s about how we can adapt that mobility solution.”

That may include offering vehicle leasing alongside its rental offering. However, Wilson stressed that providing contract hire did not mean he was looking to challenge the FN50 – the country’s 50 biggest vehicle leasing companies by risk fleet size.

Instead, he explained that it would be more about being able to cater for those customers who, while operating some long-term rentals, wanted to keep some vehicles out for two to three years. “It’s just to give the customer that extra option,” he said.

However, while he was happy to work with corporate customers wanting carpool provision, he ruled out developing a retail car-sharing product, such as a car club.

With the biggest change for fleet operators being the drive to decarbonise operations, he added: “We have also increased our share of overall volume in electric… and we're adapting our branches to be able to cope with that as well.”

Charging infrastructure is being installed and, with 95% of its business in the corporate and public sectors, Wilson says Switch will have the right vehicles to meet customer demand.

Wilson also highlighted the breadth of experience within the organisation’s team which has its headquarters in Exter. “We’ve got huge experience within the building,” he said. “I think that's crucial for understanding how sectors change.”

Chairman of Scot Group, Roger Hancock, told Fleet News that Switch signifies more than just a new name for the organisation.

“It represents our commitment to autonomy and adaptability in the continuously changing market we serve,” he said.

“Switch not only provides us with absolute independence and flexibility, but this new brand will also empower us to navigate future opportunities with agility and confidence.”

He added: “Switch provides an opportunity for us to extend our services beyond the daily rental market. We intend to become leaders in all areas of mobility, while continuing to be market leaders in customer service excellence.”

Sharing Scot Group’s charitable goals, Switch will also be supporting the My Name’5 Doddy Foundation to aid research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and provide assistance to sufferers.

The charity was formed by Scotland and British Lions rugby legend Doddy Weir, who sadly died of the disease in 2022.

The business also supports Hospiscare, an adult hospice charity based in Devon.