Avis supports e-tolls

Avis says it supports e-tolls. However, the company won't pay these tolls as the customer will be charged for them anyway. Image:South Africa Travel Online

Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) chairman Wayne Duvenage was the previous chief executive at Avis.

"The introduction of e-tolls in Gauteng will be a new experience for us all," Avis Rent-a-Car Southern Africa's chief executive Keith Rankin said.

"However, we've invested significantly in our systems and people to ensure that the Avis rental experience will continue to be as good for our customers as possible," he said.

Avis had installed e-tags in its national fleet and had developed the necessary IT systems to ensure that any e-toll fees incurred by its customers during the rental period would be included in their final invoice.

"A final invoice would be available only two days after the vehicle was returned and would highlight the total e-toll amount," the company said.

Customers will pay the toll fees

"Avis will charge the standard e-toll tariff, per e-toll gantry, to a monthly maximum value of R450 as published in the Government Gazette," it said.

"The standard tariff, which is higher than the tariff paid by registered e-tag users, is being charged to enable Avis to recover the costs of implementing systems and resources to manage e-toll compliance," Avis claimed.

Duvenage, who was the former chief executive of Avis, said it was always going to be difficult for companies to defy e-tolls. He said if car rental companies had to choose between a fuel levy or e-tolls, he was certain they would choose the fuel levy.

"They are under pressure, so I don't blame them for not going against e-tolls," he said.

Duvenage resigned as Avis Rent-a-Car's chief executive last June. He said his relationship with the company remained strong.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge