Avis Budget Group Announces Removal of Recalled Toyotas from U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico Rental Fleet

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Parsippany, N.J. Jan 27, 2010 – Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAR) issued the following statement to customers today via its Avis and Budget consumer web sites:

"The safety and peace of mind of our customers are a top priority for Avis Budget Group. In light of the safety concerns being raised about Toyota vehicles, we are taking the precaution of removing all of the approximately 20,000 cars that Toyota has identified for recall from our corporate fleet in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico effective Wednesday, January 27, 2010.

It is important to note that the safety problems that have led to Toyota’s recall of certain vehicles are believed to arise out of usage over time. Accordingly, we believe that all of the Toyotas in our fleet are safe, given the regular maintenance and the low mileage of our overall fleet, which we believe is the lowest of any major vehicle rental company in the U.S.

We also want to reassure our customers that Toyotas represent only a small percentage of our overall fleet, so we expect to be able to fulfill all projected customer demand and customers can make reservations with complete confidence for any rental occasion."

Models affected by this recall: Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, Rav4, Sequoia, Tundra and Pontiac Vibe.

Models not affected: Camry Hybrid, FJ Cruiser, Prius, Sienna, Venza, Yaris and 4Runner.

About Avis Budget Group, Inc.
Avis Budget Group is a leading provider of vehicle rental services, with operations in more than 70 countries. Through its Avis and Budget brands, the Company is a leading general-use vehicle rental company in each of North America, Australia, New Zealand and certain other regions based on published airport statistics. Avis Budget Group is headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. and has approximately 24,000 employees. For more information about about Avis Budget Group, visit avisbudgetgroup.com.