The Rental Giant That Dumped 30,000 EVs Is Now Betting On Self-Driving EVs

Just months after removing around 30,000 electric vehicles from its rental fleet, Hertz is making a surprising U-turn by launching a new division dedicated to self-driving EVs. The company will operate its own vehicles and employ its own drivers for this autonomous service, starting in Los Angeles and San Francisco. This marks a shift from traditional car rental to a mobility-as-a-service model, betting that autonomous technology can revive the EV business after a rocky period.

For Saudi buyers, this move highlights a broader trend: even established rental giants see autonomous EVs as the next frontier. In the Kingdom, the EV segment is still emerging, with brands like Lucid and Tesla competing alongside the new local marque Ceer. Whether Hertz’s gambit works could influence how similar services develop in Saudi Arabia, especially as the country pushes toward 30% EV sales by 2030.

Direct rivals for a self-driving rental service in Saudi Arabia are not yet present, but ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are already experimenting with autonomous tech. If Hertz’s service proves successful abroad, it may eventually expand to the Gulf, offering Saudi shoppers a new option for short-term EV access without ownership costs. However, local adoption depends on infrastructure and regulations that