Car hire companies in break away group

Balearic car hire companies yesterday formed a new association, Baleval, which now represents 80 per cent of the region's car rental market. The association's members account for 23'000 vehicles, 80 per cent of hire cars on the roads and 2'500 employees. Baleval spokesperson, Gabriel Ferrá, said that the new association was set up in response to the general air of discontent amongst car hire companies with how the previous organisation, Aevab, was being run. The new association is not a member of the national car hire federation and will act independently to protect the Balearic car rental industry, which is facing a tough summer.