who owns enterprise rental car company

[RowanRose]

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is owned by Enterprise Holdings, a privately held company. The ownership is entirely within the Taylor family, who founded the business in 1957. This structure is a key reason for the company's unique, long-term approach to customer service and business strategy.

The company was started by Jack Taylor with a single location in St. Louis, Missouri. His philosophy of prioritizing customer service and employee development became the foundation for its growth. Today, his descendants, including Chairman and Principal Owner Andrew C. Taylor, continue to lead the company. This private, family-owned status means Enterprise Holdings is not publicly traded on any stock exchange, unlike its main competitors.

Beyond the flagship Enterprise brand, Enterprise Holdings also owns two other major rental car brands: Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental. This trio allows the company to serve a wide range of market segments, from budget-conscious leisure travelers to corporate clients. The company's structure is a significant advantage, allowing it to make strategic decisions without the pressure of quarterly earnings reports that public companies face.

Entity	Ownership Structure	Key Brands	Founding Year	Notable Fact
Enterprise Holdings	Privately held by the Taylor family	Enterprise, Alamo, National	1957	Largest rental car company in the world by revenue and fleet size.
Hertz Global Holdings	Publicly traded (NASDAQ: HTZ)	Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty	1918	Emerged from bankruptcy restructuring in 2021.
Avis Budget Group	Publicly traded (NASDAQ: CAR)	Avis, Budget, Zipcar	1946	Known for its focus on technology and fleet management.
Sixt SE	Publicly traded family-controlled	Sixt	1912	A major European player with a significant U.S. expansion plan.

The family ownership model fosters a distinct corporate culture heavily focused on internal promotion and employee satisfaction, which they directly link to high levels of customer service. This long-term vision has been central to the company's sustained success and market leadership.

[VonWyatt]

It’s a family-run business, through and through. The Taylor family has owned Enterprise since Jack Taylor started it back in the '50s. They also own Alamo and National, making it a huge player. Being private means they don’t have to answer to Wall Street, which lets them focus on their famous customer service instead of just short-term profits. It’s a big part of their company identity.

[ReaganRose]

From a business perspective, the ownership is a major competitive differentiator. Enterprise Holdings, the parent company, is privately held by the Taylor family. This shields them from shareholder pressure, allowing for reinvestment and strategic moves that public companies might avoid. It explains their consistent growth and ability to weather industry downturns, like during the pandemic, without the drastic cuts seen by their publicly-traded rivals.