Bike-ready Mitsubishi Outlanders equipped with Thule ProRide bike carriers are now on offer from Europcar Australia, making Europcar the first car rental provider in the country to offer a new category of vehicles fitted with bike racks.
Currently cycling enthusiasts, mountain bikers and triathletes will have a travel option when hiring a vehicle from one of five national airport locations, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Coolangatta and Maroochydore.
Europcar will begin the roll out of the new fleet from June with the vision to expand to other major centres across Australia by the end of 2014.
Mike Warmington, Sales and Marketing Director for Europcar Australia and New Zealand, said the new category of vehicles would suit both recreational riders and professional athletes.
“The challenge from customers and the cycling community was to create a safer and more convenient solution for travelling with bikes,” said Warmington. “The bike carriers offer more freedom and flexibility. People no longer have to worry about disassembling their bike to fit it in the back of the car.”
Already a foundation supporter of the Amy Gillett Foundation’s A Metre Matters bicycle awareness and safety campaign, this new category of vehicles builds on Europcar’s previous commitment to support the cycling community and provide customers with simple and more diversified travel solutions.
“The decision of what bike carrier to go with was an easy one,” said Warmington. “Thule is the world leader in gear transport solutions and Australia’s most trusted brand of bike carrier. Each carrier comes with secure locks and is pre-assembled meaning that no tools are required, giving customers peace of mind and convenience.”
Thule Australia’s Marketing Manager, Scott Randall Smith said, “Europcar’s commitment to cycling and cycling enthusiasts has never been stronger. With this new product innovation, travelling with your bike to places such as the Great Ocean Road or the World Cup tracks of Cairns just got easier.”
The new vehicles will come with comprehensive instructions, a one-page disclosure statement and safety reminders about vehicle clearance heights.