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Wucherpfennig & Krohn
André Schmidt c/o Dederichs Reinecke & Partner
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andre.schmidt@dr-p.de
Press release Wucherpfennig car rental expands in North Rhine-Westphalia with strategic locations in Münster and Minden
Lensahn, 13 March 2025 - Wucherpfennig car rental, one of Germany's leading independent car rental companies, is continuing its expansion course with the opening of new locations in Münster and Minden. This strategic expansion strengthens the company's presence in North Rhine-Westphalia and optimises the service network for business and private customers
University City of Münster: mobility for students and companies
The new location in the centrally located Münster Technology Park opened in mid-February 2025. The station is well connected to public transport and also benefits from the convenient location of the business and university location with direct access to the A1 and A43 motorways. Whether short-term or long-term hire, at weekends or for commercial use - the Wucherpfennig team in Münster has the right vehicle for every need.
‘After around six decades of experience in the car hire industry, many of which I spent working with Wucherpfennig, I am delighted to be heading up the Wucherpfennig branch in Münster. I am firmly convinced that we can hold our own in Münster, a market that is dominated by large, global car hire companies. Our strengths lie in our uncomplicated handling, personal availability and direct contact with customers,’ says Tom Kersting, agency partner at the Wucherpfennig branch in Münster.
Welcome comeback: Minden welcomes Wucherpfennig back
Wucherpfennig returned to Minden on 1 January 2025 with a branch in the Minden-Ost industrial estate. Station owner Yilmaz Akman is continuing the long-standing success story at this important location with a new dynamic team. The strategically favourable location on the B61 and B65 federal highways and close to the A2 motorway ensures optimal accessibility and short distances for customers. The long-established company is now once again offering its full range of vehicles, from cars to vans, in the Porta city. ‘With the new stations in Münster and Minden, we are continuing our successful expansion and strengthening our network in an economically important region,’ explains Matthias Krohn, Managing Partner of Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH. ‘Since the separation from our former licensor at the end of 2023, our station network has grown from just under 40 to around 60 locations. This underlines our growth strategy and serves our goal of permanently improving our service through a denser network of stations.’
About Wucherpfennig & Krohn
As a family business with over 125 years of history, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH is Germany's oldest car rental company. Originally founded in 1898 by Franz Wucherpfennig as a carriage and bicycle hire company, the Wucherpfennig & Krohn network now includes around 50 rental branches in seven German states. The name stands for the two related founding families who joined forces in 2010. The merger created a joint rental business that is particularly strong in northern and central Germany and has since utilised all the resulting synergies to offer a comprehensive range of vehicles and attractive terms. Under the leadership of managing directors Dr Lars Wucherpfennig and Matthias Krohn, the car rental company has remained a successful owner-managed family-run business that has been able to grow continuously even in times that were challenging for the industry, and has a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a very extensive fleet of vehicles. Christine Meyer joined the management team in February 2024.
The reasons for this success are largely based on Wucherpfennig's high level of regional expertise and consistent corporate values, such as a strong customer focus. In addition, we have decades of industry expertise and a robust partner network.
Press release on the expansion of the business area, 06/06/2024
Expansion of the business area
Wucherpfennig car rental opens its first location in Bavaria
- On 1 June, Landau an der Isar became part of the Wucherpfennig car rental branch network
- Continuation of successful growth - branch network now comprises almost 60 locations
Hamburg, 6 June 2024 - Wucherpfennig car rental continues its successful growth path and opened the first Wucherpfennig branch in Bavaria in Landau an der Isar on 1 June 2024. As a result, customers in Bavaria will now also benefit from the strong customer focus and impressive range of rental vehicles in the Wucherpfennig car rental network.
"The move to Bavaria is another milestone in our growth strategy. In May alone, we opened seven new locations, enabling us to further consolidate our position among the top three owner-managed car rental companies in Germany. Customers benefit from the extensive knowledge transfer of our industry expertise and the constantly expanding range of services offered by our network. The reason for this is because the customer and their individual needs are always at the centre of the expansion of our branch network," says Matthias Krohn, Managing Partner of Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH.
On 1 June 2024, Landau an der Isar became part of the Wucherpfennig car rental branch network (source: Wucherpfennig car rental)
Landau an der Isar, located between Landshut and Passau in Bavaria, is optimally connected to the Bundesstrasse 20 national highway and the Bundesautobahn 92 federal highway. Last month’s opening of the location in the Lower Bavarian city was preceded by openings in Ibbenbüren, Lüneburg, Ahaus, Borken, Coesfeld, Gronau, Osnabrück, Südlohn and Bocholt. Wucherpfennig car rental now has almost 60 locations in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg – and Bavaria. In the overall ranking of all car rental companies in Germany – including the major international networks - Wucherpfennig car rental is among the top 10.
About Wucherpfennig & Krohn
As a family business with over 125 years of history, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH is Germany's oldest car rental company. Originally founded in 1898 by Franz Wucherpfennig as a carriage and bicycle hire company, the Wucherpfennig & Krohn network now includes around 50 rental branches in seven German states. The name stands for the two related founding families who joined forces in 2010. The merger created a joint rental business that is particularly strong in northern and central Germany and has since utilised all the resulting synergies to offer a comprehensive range of vehicles and attractive terms. Under the leadership of managing directors Dr Lars Wucherpfennig and Matthias Krohn, the car rental company has remained a successful owner-managed family-run business that has been able to grow continuously even in times that were challenging for the industry, and has a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a very extensive fleet of vehicles. Christine Meyer joined the management team in February 2024.
The reasons for this success are largely based on Wucherpfennig's high level of regional expertise and consistent corporate values, such as a strong customer focus. In addition, we have decades of industry expertise and a robust partner network.
Press release on the expansion of management, 28/02/2024
Expansion of management:
Car rental company Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH brings industry expert Christine Meyer onto the management team
- Christine Meyer is a new addition to the management team
- The experienced mobility manager will play a key role in opening up new business areas such as car subscription models and the direct insurance business, as well as driving forward cooperation with brokers and medium-sized car rental companies
- Following the recent acquisition of Autohaus Merkur GmbH, the management team is now responsible for a network of around 50 branches
Hamburg, 28 February 2024 - Following the announcement in spring 2023 of the separation from licensor Avis at the end of 2023, the management of Wucherpfennig & Krohn is continuing its strategy for the future and is now adding long-standing industry expert Christine Meyer to its management team.
In this position, Christine Meyer will lead the reorganisation of sales and implement new processes and business models. “Now that we no longer have to comply with Avis' very rigid licence requirements, further marketing opportunities are open to us. This allows us to make our offerings even more customer-centric and flexible and develop individual forms of collaboration together with our customers. Christine Meyer has more than three decades of expertise in areas such as the direct insurance business, fleet leasing and direct cooperation with international brokers and medium-sized car rental companies. Dr Lars Wucherpfennig and myself consider her to be the ideal person to fully exploit our growing market potential," says Mathias Krohn, Managing Partner of Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH.
Flexibility and customer-centricity in response to the mobility transformation
At Wucherpfennig & Krohn, Meyer is primarily interested in the opportunities, but also the challenges, that arise from the transformation of both the company and
the entire industry. "Wucherpfennig & Krohn particularly impressed me with its focus on customer-centricity. Currently, nothing is changing faster than mobility. As an owner-managed company, Wucherpfennig & Krohn is particularly good at responding to new needs and requests quickly and flexibly. The idea of being able to play a key role in shaping the company during this phase was crucial for me, and I am convinced that I will be able to realise further potential here in the short term," reveals the new Managing Director.
Christine Meyer began her career in the industry in 1992 as assistant to the management at Autohansa Dose & Peters. After Dose & Peters was sold to Alamo in 1995, she was responsible for the expansion on the local markets throughout Germany as Manager Local Sales Operation in addition to assisting the management. After holding various management positions, including at Caro Autovermietung and as Managing Director of Starcar Europa Service Group AG, Meyer was responsible for sales, customer service and the licence business in her last position at Russmann Leasing GmbH & Co KG.
Better market opportunities and greater attractiveness for potential partners, too
Thanks to the acquisition of 13 branches from Autohaus Merkur GmbH, Wucherpfennig & Krohn is now not only one of the top three owner-managed German car rental companies with around 50 branches, but is also clearly in the top ten in the overall ranking of all car rental companies in Germany - including the large international networks.
"The expanded management team not only opens up new market opportunities for us, but the additional expertise will also make us even more attractive for a future licensor or other partner companies. We are clearly motivated by growth – in our branch network and, of course, in our customer portfolio and services. By appointing Christine Meyer to our company management, we have established an important foundation," concludes Krohn.
About Wucherpfennig & Krohn
As a family-run business with over 125 years of history, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH is Germany's oldest car rental company. Originally founded in 1898 by Franz Wucherpfennig as a carriage and bicycle hire company, the Wucherpfennig & Krohn network now includes around 50 rental branches in seven German states. The name stands for the two related founding families who joined forces in 2010. The merger created a joint rental business that is particularly strong in northern and central Germany and has since utilised all the resulting synergies to offer a comprehensive range of vehicles and attractive terms. Under the leadership of Managing Directors Dr Lars Wucherpfennig and Matthias Krohn, the car rental company has remained a successful owner-managed, family-run business that has been able to grow continuously even in times that were challenging for the industry, and has a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a very extensive fleet of vehicles. Christine Meyer joined the management team in February 2024.
The reasons for this success are largely based on Wucherpfennig's high level of regional expertise and consistent corporate values, such as a strong customer focus. In addition, we have decades of industry expertise and a robust partner network.
Press release on the takeover of Autohaus Merkur, 15/02/2024
Merger:
Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH car rental takes over Autohaus Merkur's branch network
- With around 50 branches, the network is now one of the top 3 owner-managed car rental companies
- Amalgamation strengthens efficiency for customers and financiers, in the purchase of vehicles and technology and in the search for skilled labour and partners
- The aim is to achieve further growth together – both within existing branches and with regard to new branches
Hamburg, 15 February 2024 - Following the separation from licensor Avis at the end of 2023, the Wucherpfennig & Krohn management is continuing its strategy for the future and took over the branch network of Autohaus Merkur GmbH in Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony a few days ago.
As a result of the company acquisition, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH now operates a further 13 branches since 1 January 2024, strengthening its position in Lower Saxony and Hesse in particular. The new branch network includes important locations in Göttingen, Kassel, Marburg, Giessen and many more. With around 50 branches, Wucherpfennig & Krohn is therefore not only one of the top three owner-managed German car rental companies, but also clearly in the top 10 in the overall ranking of all car rental companies in Germany – including the large international networks.
"The decision to integrate the branch network of Autohaus Merkur Autovermietung is another part of our strategy of consistent customer centricity. Our aim is to always be a reliable partner for our customers, even in times when mobility requirements are changing, by understanding their needs and providing flexible, customised solutions. As an owner-managed company, we believe we are particularly good at this. Growth helps us to continue to put this strength on the road," says Matthias Krohn, Managing Director of Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH.
Both companies share many years of cooperation and common values
"Wucherpfennig and Merkur have been working together very well for years. The two branch networks complement each other perfectly. Thanks to this intensive collaboration, processes, customer structure and employee expertise have already been implemented to a large extent. Added to this is the experience that our corporate values simply fit together perfectly. That was particularly important to me and my father, who founded the company many years ago," says Alexander Alpern, who will continue to run the vehicle leasing division as Managing Director after handing over the rental business.
Since January 2024, there has been a real change for customers in the appearance of the local branches. In future, Wucherpfennig's striking red and white flags will fly on the masts there. "All in all, the new company size makes us more effective in many areas and we are planning to further expand the locations and thus the number of employees required to ensure customer satisfaction in the medium term. And: this takeover will certainly not be the last one in the expansion of our branch network. We want to and will continue to grow organically," says Krohn in closing.
The prospects for such growth are good: Wucherpfennig & Krohn is currently negotiating with a major international licensor. A contract could be signed in just a few weeks.
About Wucherpfennig & Krohn:
As a family-run business with over 125 years of history, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH is Germany's oldest car rental company. Originally founded in 1898 by Franz Wucherpfennig, the Wucherpfennig & Krohn network now includes around 50 rental branches in seven German states. The name stands for the two related founding families who joined forces in 2010. Through the merger, they created a strong joint rental business extending from northern Germany down to North Rhine-Westphalia and have since utilised all the resulting synergies for a comprehensive range of vehicles and attractive terms. With Managing Partners Dr Lars Wucherpfennig and Matthias Krohn, complemented by Managing Director Christine Meyer, the car rental company has remained a successful owner-managed family business that has been able to grow continuously even in challenging times for the industry and has a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a very extensive fleet of vehicles.
The reasons for this success are largely based on Wucherpfennig & Krohn's high level of regional expertise and consistent corporate values, such as a strong customer focus. In addition, we have decades of industry expertise and a robust partner network.
Press release on the termination of the licence agreement, 11/04/2023
Termination of the licence agreement: Avis Budget and car rental company Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH to part ways from 2024
After a successful 30-year collaboration, Wucherpfennig & Krohn and Avis Budget will part ways from 31 December 2023. The contract was unexpectedly cancelled by Avis Budget Autovermietung GmbH & Co KG at the end of 2022. Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH and Autohaus Merkur GmbH, whose licence agreement was also terminated by AVIS Budget at the same time, operate around 50 successful and ultra-modern branches in 7 out of 16 federal states and will operate independently of AVIS Budget in the market in future.
"Despite the unpredictability of this termination for us and the resulting changes required, for example in the marketing of our services, we also see this new freedom as a clear opportunity for us. From 2024, it will give us greater flexibility in structuring our offers and independence from regional restrictions, giving us better opportunities to adapt even faster to changes and trends in our business. In short: we will be able to respond even better to customer requests, address new customer groups and are no longer bound by Avis Budget specifications when choosing locations," says Dr Lars Wucherpfennig, who manages the car rental business together with Matthias Krohn.
Avis Budget has not yet given any specific reasons for the termination of the collaboration. Wucherpfennig & Krohn is a stable, profitable company.
"Thanks to very prudent planning and a high level of economic stability, we have been able to continuously invest in infrastructure, employees and locations and now have 40 state-of-the-art locations of our own as well as a very extensive fleet of vehicles. What makes us successful is largely independent of Avis Budget. At the same time, marketing mechanisms have changed fundamentally in recent decades. Today, the rental business is often generated via online marketing, for example via SEO and SEA measures or through collaborations with comparison portals. Thanks to our own strong measures in these areas, we will compensate for the inputs from Avis Budget from January 2024 and address new customer groups. The new independence will also help us here – in future we will be able to react more quickly to our capacity utilisation in marketing than before, we will be more flexible with our offers and we will be able to play to our regional strengths much more directly," says Matthias Krohn.
The termination will take effect from 31/12/2023. Until then, Wucherpfennig & Krohn and Avis Budget will continue to work together as before.
Press release on the expansion as of 01/01/2013
Lensahn - The car rental company and Avis licence partner Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH from Hamburg and Lensahn continues to expand: the purchase agreement for the branch network of Avis licence holder Schwarzkopf GmbH in Minden has now been signed.
As a result of this acquisition, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH will operate a further 17 branches as of 1 January 2013, significantly expanding its geographical presence in Lower Saxony and, for the first time, in North Rhine-Westphalia. The new branch network includes the towns of Bad Oeynhausen, Bielefeld, Bielefeld/ Hauptbahnhof (central train station), Blomberg, Bünde, Detmold, Diepholz, Gütersloh, Herford, Lübbecke, Minden, Neustadt/ Am Rübenberge, Nienburg, Rinteln, Rahden, Stadthagen and Vechta,
“The purchase of the Schwarzkopf GmbH branch network expands our company's capabilities even further. In addition to our previous business area in the north and north-east of Germany, we are now also positioning ourselves optimally in the western region of northern Germany in order to offer Avis customers the best mobility services," says Managing Director Dr Lars Wucherpfennig
"We are delighted that the previous owner, Alfred Schwarzkopf, decided in our favour when considering selling parts of his company on grounds of age due to our long-standing partnership. With our many years of industry experience, we have established modern structures and processes that now benefit both sides," explains Managing Director Matthias Krohn.
As a result of the expansion, customers of Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH will be able to hire their Avis rental cars at a total of 59 rental branches in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg and parts of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg from 1 January 2013. Thanks to the partnership with Avis, customers can connect to the global network of 5,200 branches in 165 countries on six continents as a matter of course.
The company Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH is the second largest German licence partner in the Avis franchise system – with 43 branches to date and an annual turnover of around 15 million euros. The licence area covers the north and east of Germany. The company is based in Hamburg, while the head office is located in Lensahn near Lübeck. The most important cities in the licence area include Hamburg, Lüneburg, Lübeck, Kiel, Flensburg, Schwerin and Rostock.
The company Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH has been operating jointly since 2010. The original company, Wucherpfennig, can look back on a history of car rental dating back to 1934, making it probably the first car rental company in Hamburg. The history of the Krohn company began in 1978. Both companies have been licence partners of the Avis Budget Group, one of the world's leading car rental companies, since 1990. The company has 5,200 branches in 165 countries worldwide and has been present in Germany since 1965. The dense network in Germany comprises around 344 branches and an average fleet of 22,000 vehicles.
Press release on the merger
Oberursel, 1 September 2010. Two licence partners of Avis car rental, Franz Wucherpfennig GmbH and Krohn GmbH, have now teamed up: since 1 September 2010, Wucherpfennig & Krohn GmbH has been responsible for the rental of Avis rental cars in the north and east of Germany. The new registered offices are in Hamburg, while the head office is in Lensahn. The most important cities in the licence area include Hamburg, Lüneburg, Lübeck, Kiel, Flensburg, Schwerin and Rostock.
This creates the second largest licence partner in the Avis franchise system – with currently 37 branches and an annual turnover of around 14 million euros.
When it comes to car rental, Wucherpfennig can look back on a history dating back to 1934, making it probably the first car rental company in Hamburg's history. Krohn’s company history began in 1978. Both companies have been licence partners of Avis since 1990.
"Together, we can pool our expertise, optimise our range of services and thus represent Avis even more effectively in the future," says Managing Director Dr Lars Wucherpfennig. "The merger of our companies brings together customers, decades of expertise and sales and marketing knowledge from two sides," adds Matthias Krohn, also Managing Director. "We are convinced that this puts us in an optimal position to offer Avis customers in our region the best mobility services."
Frank Lüders, Managing Director at Avis, welcomes the merger: "We are delighted with this step, as our success largely depends on working with strong partners. Avis stands for service at the highest level – an achievement that we also owe to our licence partners, who represent us in many regions of Germany. Now with an even greater presence in the north of Germany."
Avis works with a total of 24 long-standing licence partners throughout Germany, who distinguish themselves with their professionalism and commitment. This gives customers throughout Germany access to an extensive fleet and the excellent services of Avis car rental.
Avis, founded in 1946 and in Germany since 1965, is one of the world's leading car rental companies. The company is represented in 170 countries with a fleet of over 350,000 vehicles. Avis Germany is based in Oberursel, Taunus. The network comprises around 330 branches and an average fleet of 22,000 vehicles. Avis Prestige Cars are unique: as the exclusive car rental partner of Porsche, Avis offers a wide range of models from the Stuttgart luxury brand under this name.
Numerous awards attest to the high level of service: Latest example: 1st place in n-tv’s 2010 service test and top 3 among car rental companies. In 2009, ServiceRating GmbH awarded Avis the test rating "excellent" for the third time in a row. Avis' services were rated "good" in the 2009 ADAC car hire test, and Avis came first in several categories at the renowned World Travel Awards 2009.