KEY POINTS:
Warren Avis, who has died at 91, was the founder of the pioneering airport car rental chain that still bears his name.
Avis was frustrated at the lack of ground transport available at American airports. So he started his own car rental business in 1946 with US$10,000 of his own money and a US$75,000 loan.
The first outlet was at an airport near Detroit, the second in Miami. "Nobody thought it would work," Avis said later. "There was incredible trouble. You had to get all the airlines to co-operate. Where did you put the cars?"
Ensuring his counters were close to baggage-claim areas, Avis introduced other innovations, including corporate credit accounts and a national franchise network.
In 1953, Avis Rent A Car expanded with franchises in Europe, Canada and Mexico. The next year, however, Avis sold out for $8 million.
The company Avis founded battled out of financial difficulties, partly because of its famous slogan, "We're only No 2. We Try Harder". Avis now has more than 4000 outlets in 160 countries.
