Hertz Orders 100,000 Tesla Model 3s, Signs Tom Brady For EV-Focused Ad Campaign

Hertz Corporation announced it has ordered 100,000 electric vehicles from Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. TSLA and has recruited seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as its celebrity spokesperson to promote its new focus on electric vehicle rentals.

What Happened: Beginning in early November, Hertz will start offering its customers the ability to rent Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles at its airport and neighborhood locations in major U.S. markets and in select European cities. The current order will result in the Tesla Model 3 comprising more than 20% of Hertz’s global fleet.

In a press statement, the company said it would “offer a premium and differentiated rental experience for the Tesla EVs” that includes a “digitized guidance to educate customers about the electric vehicle to get them on their way quickly.”

Hertz is also installing 3,000 Tesla charging stations throughout its location network and will update its mobile app to accommodate expedited rental booking for its Tesla fleet.

What Else Happened: Hertz is promoting the addition of the Teslas to its rental choices with a marketing campaign titled "Hertz, Let's Go!" that features Brady in two commercials renting, recharging and using an EV at a Hertz airport location.

Hertz has a history of using football players as spokespersons, most notably with its long-running campaign featuring O.J. Simpson and a 2020 campaign centered on Jerome “The Bus” Bettis.

What Happens Next: According to a Wall Street Journal report, Hertz Global Holdings Inc. HTZZ, the parent company of the Hertz Corporation, is planning to relist on a major stock exchange by the end of the year. The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2020 and was suspended from the New York Stock Exchange five months later.

Hertz Global Holdings emerged from bankruptcy this past June and posted $1.87 billion in sales during the second quarter of this year, up 62% from the previous quarter.

Photos: Hertz Corporation