NATIONAL Car Rental has signed up a new franchisee to operate three existing branches in the south west, plus a new site at Taunton.

Jim Howard will run branches in Exeter, Plymouth and Newquay as well as the new location. He began his career in the car rental sector as a branch manager for Hertz and has held other positions in the daily rental and contract hire industry.

John Leigh, senior vice-president for National, said: 'These new franchises are a further step towards our target of 165 locations by 2005.'