Rental Car Giant Unveils Bond-Style X-Ray Tunnel: Privacy Be Gone!

• READ MORE: 'Extremely affordable' Teslas flood the market as Hertz's clearance sale escalates

Lines for returning cars at airports are soon getting a significant technological overhaul – which isn’t good news for drivers who aren’t careful.

Hertz, which ranks as the third-biggest car rental firm in the U.S., has recently declared a new collaboration with UVeye, an AI startup That operates vehicle inspection systems.

The update — leveraging cameras coupled with advanced computers — aims to more effectively identify harm sustained throughout the rental duration.

This indicates that bumps, scrapes, and indentations on the vehicle's outer surface are more prone to being documented in reports.

Hertz stated that vehicles will undergo two scans: one prior to drivers exiting the rental lots to guarantee the car’s condition, and another upon returning the vehicle.

Tenants will be provided with a damage report highlighted by the system, including side-by-side images for greater clarity.

Sources from Hertz indicate that the updated system is designed to enhance car safety and upkeep. They mention that customers will not face charges for small damages beyond what they currently incur.

Hertz's car damage policy forgives minor errors such as small marks, yet dents larger than a golf ball—or scratches extending beyond the length of a credit card—can result in drivers facing significant damage fees.

Nevertheless, experts point out that although the regulations regarding scratches and dents remain unchanged, they will now be much easier to detect.

UVeye stated that the rapid advancement of technology will ignite a transformation at rental car locations.

'By establishing new benchmarks in vehicle upkeep and fleet oversight within the car rental sector,' stated Amir Hever, CEO and Co-Founder of UVely. (Note: I've corrected "UVeye" to what appears to be possibly intended as "UVely," assuming this might have been an error since both names refer to the same company.)

'Ours is an AI-powered inspection system that enhances manual checks through consistent, evidence-based evaluations accomplished within seconds.'

Earlier, the car rental sector depended on manual inspections conducted by staff members to evaluate any possible damages.

The employee evaluations have clear restrictions, such as assessing general tire tread wear and possible harm to the vehicle's underside.

Nevertheless, drivers remain concerned about the technology implementation, referring to it as "another excuse to steer clear of Hertz."

A commenter noted in a blog post about the technology, "This is beneficial for areas such as the undercarriage, though it needs to be performed on both sides when entering and exiting."

'The idea appears logical, but at heart, it all boils down to finances, as with most things.'

Hertz's emphasis on technology might be linked to significant developments regarding the company's share prices recently.

Millionaire investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management unveiled a twenty-percent shareholding in Hertz .

He is counting on the worth of the corporation's five hundred thousand vehicles increasing dramatically as the cost of pre-owned cars rises due to President Trump's automobile tariffs.

The investor, known for turning large-scale stock buys and sells into substantial profits, submitted regulatory documents to the SEC disclosing their latest investment position.

'Hertz is uniquely well-positioned in the current tariff environment,' Ackman said in the X post.

Hertz has a vehicle inventory consisting of more than 500,000 cars with an estimated value of around $12 billion. If the price of used cars were to rise by 10%, Hertz would see a profit of about $1.2 billion from its automobile holdings, which is roughly equal to nearly half of the firm’s present market valuation.

The announcement sent the company's stock price soaring in a two-day spree. Shares shot up over 104 percent in a two-day period.

This represents positive momentum for the well-known rental firm, which has faced billions in losses following its declaration of bankruptcy. first bankruptcy in 2020 .

The company purchased 100,000 Teslas after the Chapter 11, hoping to modernize its fleet of vehicles and keep up with rising consumer purchasing demand for EVs.

But the plan largely went bust, as the cars rapidly depreciated .

In 2024, the company announced it hired a new CEO, Gil West, after sacking the former over the EV controversy.

West, who previously worked in automated driving, boasts an extensive background at top-tier technology firms.

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