The Use of AI in Car Rentals

Avis projects to automate the most dreaded part of vehicle rentals: the inspection for car damages. Rather than having an employee spend time to ensure that the procedure goes smoothly, the car rental company intends to utilize artificial intelligence to replace the process. The pilot program would automatically detect maintenance issues and damage, removing the need for idle time.

Collaborating with a startup, Ravin, Avis would integrate existing infrastructure to detect damages. CCTV cameras would complement one another to conduct a full scan, using machine learning to analyze the state of the vehicle. Subsequently, the system would generate a 3D model and highlighting the damaged sections for customers before they rent the actual vehicle. The returning process also receives the same streamlined treatment, greatly cutting down the hassle for both parties.

Compared to manual inspections, this automated process also locates more issues. Avis’ pilot program of implementing this technology at London’s Heathrow Airport found 22% more dents and scratches than usual. According to vice president of fleet ventures at Avis Ohad Zeria, “employees [...] sometimes rush through inspections to get customers out the door more quickly” causing the difference in numbers. Automation, in this case, would locate issues faster and more reliably.

Ravin’s technology stands out as it predominately relies on the CCTV cameras Avis already installed rather than introducing new hardware. This advantage effectively lowers the cost and eases the integration process. With Avis’ large fleet of vehicles, Zeria notes that “the system doesn’t need to be shown an image of a particular car beforehand to spot damage,” allowing for easy adoption of the technology. 

Avis plans to launch additional pilot programs after the success of the Heathrow pilot program. While the rental company would not disclose a set timeline for the implementation of the technology, this new approach to decrease labor costs and customer waiting time exemplifies the company’s efforts to introduce change. Introducing AI-led inspections could very well lead to AVIS diversifying into similar same applications in autonomous vehicles.

Brian Trappe is Managing Director of Axiom Technology Headhunting in Hong Kong.