Dealer car rental services, which are already enjoying a growth in demand from long-term rental customers, will benefit from a new online marketplace that has just been launched in the UK.

Following a successful launch in Germany, erento is now targeting the UK web market with its site www.erento.co.uk.

It is currently offering a 100-day test drive package providing rental suppliers with the opportunity to hire out as many vehicles as they want for a fee of £50.

The online rental marketplace has had a dramatic impact on the vehicle rental industry in Germany, says erento, which claims to have a quarter of rental companies there on its books, including Alamo, ADAC and Harley-Davidson.

While e-commerce presents a growth opportunity for rental companies of all sizes, it is rarely financially viable for smaller players to build sophisticated e-commerce and online marketing operations capable of competing with the established players.

As a result, the online rental industry is dominated by a few multi-national companies.

Erento claims it provides the answer by allowing rental companies to establish and grow their online presence, regardless of size.

Star Car, a medium-sized German car rental company, for example, gained 1,400 customers and over E100,000 in revenue within the first year through erento