Toyota NZ acquires Ezi Car Rental

Toyota New Zealand has today announced that it is adding one of the country’s largest locally owned and operated rental car businesses to its brand portfolio, Ezi Car Rental.

The rental car company, commonly referred to as “Ezi”, was acquired by Toyota Financial Services on 2 October 2023 where it joined the likes of the Cityhop carsharing service.

Part of the reason behind the acquisition comes down to the importance of the rental car industry in New Zealand as it contributes around 3 per cent to the country’s GDP. However, Toyota NZ says that it was more about what Ezi does for its value chain than anything else.

“Toyota wants to become the mobility company for Kiwis by providing mobility solutions that are affordable and accessible,” says Neeraj Lala, CEO of Toyota NZ.

“The acquisition of Ezi Car Rental allows us to focus on the opportunities in car usage as well as car ownership, and sits alongside our ownership of Cityhop, putting Toyota in a great position.”

“Ezi puts us at 18 airports across the country, as well as an additional 6 locations, and through its significant vehicle fleet, enables us to provide mobility solutions to existing and new customers.”

The rental car company is based at a total of 24 locations across New Zealand, including  Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Hamilton, Hokitika, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, and Wellington.

Toyota NZ stated that Ezi’s CEO, Kevin Walker, will remain in the business for a period to ensure a seamless ownership transition.