Car rental innovator; Born August 4, 1915; Died April 25, 2007.
Warren Avis, the founder of the car rental business which pioneered renting from airports, died on Tuesday, aged 92.
A decorated bomber pilot with the US Army Air Corps during the Second World War, Avis formed his car rental company in 1946 at US airports in Miami and Michigan with an investment of $85,000, two employees and fewer than 200 cars. Avis said he got the idea for the business when he was a pilot and could not find ground transportation once he arrived at airports.
He built what became the world's largest car rental system until it was overtaken by Hertz after years of ferocious competition. Avis sold his interest in the business for $8m in 1954.
Later in his career, Avis headed Avis Enterprises, which invested in high-technology electronics companies.
With success, Avis befriended famous socialites including actor Cary Grant, hotelier Nicky Hilton and entertainer Sammy Davis Jr.
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