Enis Buyukkircali of
Europcar Turkey

Founded in Paris in 1949, Europcar International is one of the largest car rental companies in the world with a network of approximately 13,000 offices and more than 1.2 million vehicles in 170 countries around the world. International agreements with organizations such as airlines, hotel chains, and auto clubs have transformed Europcar's service to its customers into a global mobility concept by exceeding car rental industry standards.

The advantage of being an international company, thanks to the agreements made with multinational companies in Turkey and other countries, leads to a car rental service with special prices and conditions.

Developing its fleet with a customer focus, Europcar aims to provide the best service to its customers with its constantly renewed vehicles and diesel options. The wide range of vehicles available in its fleet varies from economical vehicles to vans and can meet all kinds of automobile needs.

Eruopcar can be found in most Turkish airports: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Eskisehir, Aydin, Denizli, Antalya, Adana, Mugla, Bursa, Konya, Kayseri, Nevsehir (Urgup), Samsun, Trabzon, Ordu, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Sivas, Bingol, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Erzurum and Elazığ. Europcar is also located in the provinces of Turkey, with an office n almost every location on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Europcar's services are provided in the best way on the routes connecting Çeşme, Kuşadası, Bodrum, Dalaman, Marmaris, Didim, Dalyan, Fethiye, Belek, Kemer, Alanya and Side with the Mediterranean.

Europcar International's Turkey representative, FAZ Inc., is spread across 80 offices and has a fleet of over 3,500 vehicles. All the possibilities offered by the use of the system by Europcar Auto Phase are present in Turkey thanks to Europcar's widespread and powerful network, international reservation service, ease of making direct reservations over the internet, 24-hour consultation and damage service, international roaming, and one-way rental facilities to facilitate business trips abroad. Guaranteed special prices in the country, reservation priority, one-way rental facilities, chauffeur-driven service, delivery to a specific address are advantages offered by our company.

From a car rental company to a free movement service provider, Europcar develops and shares its services with the principle of maximum customer satisfaction by creating the most accurate solutions for personal needs in every situation and taking care of the mobility needs of its customers that the most affordable prices with the maximum added value it can offer.

For this reason, airline companies can work on common platforms with hotel chains, car maintenance services, and road assistance providers and produce solutions that suit all the needs of their customers.

Europcar also aims to enable its customers to benefit from the system that best suits their conditions by offering many channels by which they can place a reservation. Thus, it enables each customer to make a reservation through the channel that they think is the most suitable for their personal preferences and requests.

In today's complex world, the importance of people's freedom in determining their personal priorities (business life and private life) has become more and more important. For this reason, Europcar aims to offer its customers the most satisfying coupon services to their mobility needs in line with their personal preferences and expectations.

We have left behind a year full of teachings on health concerns, vaccine studies, crisis plans, new ways of working, changing consumption habits, and communication models. While our agendas and priorities have changed rapidly, the past period's economic conditions gave every business, large and small, regardless of the sector, a bumpy ride.

All parties of the sector were affected by the pandemic from manufacturers to dealers, suppliers, and financial services providers in the Turkish automotive sector. Exports fell by 27 percent due to the contraction of the European markets. On the other hand, production rates declined by 11 percent compared to the previous year. Besides, during the period of uncertainty, the operational car rental sector had to shrink because of increased costs resulting from problems in the supply of vehicles, a rise in interest rates, and the depreciation of the Turkish Lira. With airline transportation coming to a standstill between April and June, the decline in domestic tourism, and the decrease in business travel, the daily car rental sector also took its place among the affected parties.

According to a report published in May by Meticulous Market Research, the world automotive industry suffered a loss of 5.7 billion dollars. Additionally, Europe became the region that suffered the most significant loss in the automotive sector, losing 2.5 billion dollars.

Despite all the unfavorable conditions of the pandemic and other developments globally, it is essential to note that the new and used car markets in Turkey experienced a period of dynamic growth in 2020 compared to recent years. According to the data announced in 2020, the total market of Turkish cars and light commercial vehicles increased by 61.3 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 772, 788 units. Car sales increased by 57.6 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year and reached 610,109 units, while the light commercial vehicle market increased by 77.2 percent and reached 162,679 units.

Although we have experienced a challenging year in many ways, vaccine studies that began to be carried out built up the hope for the whole world. The economic recovery process will be initiated by keeping the epidemic under control; however, as the automotive sector is complex, it may take some time for supply chains to reach old production capacities.

On the other hand, I think that among the changing consumer habits with the epidemic, the use of individual cars has increased, and operational leasing will be more preferred for businesses of all sizes in the upcoming period. In other words, what I suggest is that the growth trend in the economy will be in parallel with the long-term car rental sector.

The spark in the tourism sector, which is expected to recover as of the second half of the year, will positively reflect on the short-term car rental sector. To this end, the early bookings we received in the past can be replaced by last-minute vacation plans of consumers.

Passengers who get off the plane and do not want to use public transportation may prefer to rent a car on their city trips, and there will be an increase in daily car rentals with the gradual start of returning to offices.

One of the most likely problems that the industry will face in 2021 will be the difficulty of factories meeting the demand for production. The fact that many factories were closed during the pandemic, the number of personnel was minimized, and imported parts were kept at customs due to the epidemic was reflected in car prices. At this point, we can say that it is possible for consumers who are planning to buy a new vehicle to meet their vehicle needs through rental companies while they wait for prices to come down.

We are in a process in which businesses that keep up with digitalization, which we face more in all aspects of our lives, will have a better advantage, while those that cannot adapt will undoubtedly experience difficulties. We must be prepared for a world order where brands that attentively follow changing consumer behavior and transform traditional sales or marketing techniques will have an advantage over the others. Keep in mind that being able to stand out in global competition can only be possible with innovative businesses and leaders who can implement digital transformation and invest in this field.

In addition to many regional outbreaks in the world's history, we know that there were many global or intercontinental outbreaks. Regardless of the process, human beings have always managed to come out of crises. Although the predictions for 2021 are more positive and hopeful than the previous year, we need some more time to go back to our pandemic-free days.

Since an individually won pandemic war will not help us return to normal, I believe that we will overcome this process by first taking care of ourselves and our loved ones' health and then working diligently without losing our faith.