Driving Car Code Expansion...

Need for change

The existing matrix has been used successfully for many years but with an increasing number of changes in motor vehicle design it is now necessary to expand the matrix to facilitate more precise and descriptive coding.

Key factors:

  • Increasingly diverse chassis types in motor vehicle design
  • Growing demand to specify different fuel types
  • Need to differentiate between 2/4 wheel drive SUVs
  • Greater demand to offer specific models and promotion vehicles
  • Need to facilitate enhanced search logic via online booking services
  • Improved information for consumers to make an `informed choice' when making a car rental booking

Current matrix

CLASS TYPE TRANSMISSION AIR COND.
M Mini B 2-Door A Automatic R Yes
E Economy D 4-Door M Manual N No
C Compact C 2/4-Door Car
I Intermediate W Wagon/Estate
S Standard V Van (passenger)
F Full-Size L Limousine
P Premium S Sport
L Luxury T Convertible
X Special F 4-Wheel Drive
P Pick Up
J All Terrain
K Van (Cargo)
X Special
R Recreational

 

New expanded matrix

CATEGORY TYPE TRANSMISSION/DRIVE FUEL/AIR COND.
M Mini B 2-3 Door M Manual Unspecified Drive R Unspecified Fuel/Power With Air
N Mini Elite C 2/4 Door N Manual 4WD N Unspecified Fuel/Power Without Air
E Economy D 4-5 Door C Manual AWD D Diesel Air
H Economy Elite W Wagon/Estate A Auto Unspecified Drive Q Diesel No Air
C Compact V Passenger Van B Auto 4WD H Hybrid Air
D Compact Elite L Limousine D Auto AWD I Hybrid No Air
I Intermediate S Sport E Electric Air
J Intermediate Elite T Convertible C Electric No Air
S Standard F SUV L LPG/Compressed Gas Air
R Standard Elite J Open Air All Terrain S LPG/Compressed Gas No Air
F Fullsize X Special A Hydrogen Air
G Fullsize Elite P Pick up Regular Cab B Hydrogen No Air
P Premium Q Pick up Extended Cab M Multi Fuel/Power Air
U Premium Elite Z Special Offer Car F Multi fuel/power No Air
L Luxury E Coupe V Petrol Air
W Luxury Elite M Monospace Z Petrol No Air
O Oversize R Recreational Vehicle U Ethanol Air
X Special H Motor Home X Ethanol No Air
Y 2 Wheel Vehicle
N Roadster
G Crossover
K Commercial Van/Truck

Features & benefits of the expanded matrix

  • Category - increased with the introduction of an `Elite' band for most existing categories.
  • The `Elite' categories are designed to enable Car Rental companies to differentiate between standard and high-spec or luxury brand models of similar dimensions

Example:
Current Matrix New Matrix
Ford Mondeo Intermediate Intermediate
BMW 1 Series Intermediate Intermediate Elite

  • Oversize category has been added to cater for the `Hummer' type vehicles. Currently popular in North America but with growing demand elsewhere.
  • Types - nine additional types have been added, including: Roadster, Coupe, Special Offer / Promotional
  • The existing Type `F' has been changed from 4WD to SUV
  • Fuel Type – with the ever increasing number of options available it has become necessary to have the ability to distinguish the fuel type, this is particularly true in regions whereby tax breaks apply to certain fuels. This element has been incorporated into the 4th character
  • Drive – Due to demand, especially within North America, the ability to distinguish SUV's as 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive, or ALL wheel drive has become a key issue. Consequently this has now been incorporated into the 3rd character. This enables improved consumer choice globally when making bookings.
  • Passenger Vans and SUVs – in the current matrix SUV's and Passenger Vans are classified using the same algorithm as regular cars whereby cost and volume determine the Category (1st character)
  • In the new matrix, classification of the SUV and Passenger Vans Category (1st character) will be enhanced to identify passenger capacity, as per the chart below:

PASSENGER VAN CODING SUV CODING CROSSOVER CODING
IV 6+ Seats EF 2-4 Seats EG 2-4 Seats
JV Elite 6+ Seats HF Elite 2-4 Seats HG Elite <4 Seats
SV 8+ seats CF 4-5 Seats CG 4-5 Seats
RV Elite 8+ Seats DF Elite 4-5 Seats DG Elite 4-5 Seats
FV 10+ Seats IF 5+ Seats IG 5+ Seats
GV = Elite 10+ Seats JF Elite 5+ Seats JG Elite 5+ Seats
PV 15+ Seats SF 5-6 Seats SG 5 - 6 Seats
UV Elite 15+ Seats RF Elite 5-6 Seats RG Elite 5-6 Seats
LV Luxury no seat req. FF 6+ Seats FG 6+ Seats
WV Luxury Elite no seat req. GF Elite 6+ Seats GG Elite 6+ Seats
PF 7 + Seats PG 7 + Seats
UF Elite 7+ Seats UG Elite 7+ Seats
LF Luxury no seat req. LG Luxury no seat req.
WF Luxury Elite no seat req. WG Luxury Elite no seat req.

Implementation

  • Q4 2006 – ACRISS will commence delivering a new Classification System based on the new matrix requirements. This will run in parallel with the existing system to enable `in-house system' testing and staff education.
  • Q4 2006 – Global Distribution Systems (GDS) implementation will be coordinated to synchronise the switch, to enable car rental companies to standardise coding across all GDS at one time
  • Q4 2006 / Q1 2007 – ACRISS members will begin implementation.
  • In order to allow each company to schedule and co-ordinate change to suit specific system requirements, there is no industry implementation plan. Companies can of course opt out if they wish but may do so at a loss to industry standardisation, optimisation of the market place which the expansion of the codes provides and maintenance of ACRISS mission to avoid misleading information.

Global agreement & acceptance

How was this achieved?

  • In 2003 requests began in earnest to ACRISS Members and generally within the industry to expand the current matrix
  • By 2004 the US showed support for the expansion, largely due to the problems experienced in the SUV market
  • ACRISS was elected to drive the project being the only forum capable of handling such a change, the project commenced Q4 2004
  • As the current ACRISS remit is EMEA only, legal opinion was sort for ACRISS to be permitted to create an environment to facilitate global participation
  • Subsequently ACRISS formed a sub-group in the US to engage the key contacts and ensure all requirements were considered.
  • After more than a year of dialogue agreement was reached on the new matrix. This communication included two Global meetings attended by all the major RAC companies and all 4 GDS'.
  • Ensuring the buy-in from the major online players was also key to acceptance and the Sub Group meetings were attended by a number of representatives.
  • Non ACRISS Members are encouraged to participate in the Classification System to enhance information quality and improve consumer choice

Next steps:

  • In conjunction with other industry bodies ACRISS will develop a `consumer friendly' translation system to enhance the quality of information at the time of booking
  • Following successful implementation of the new system for cars, ACRISS will review and develop enhanced coding requirements for Commercial Vans

ACRISS Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards
EEIG European Economic Interest Grouping
® European Registered Association
© Information on this site is subject to usual © Copyright laws

 
Principal Members: Alamo, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National
Associate Members: Enterprise, Budget
Allied Associates: Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, Worldspan, Carlson Wagonlit, American Express Travel, Gullivers Travel, Guild of European Travel Agents (G.E.B.T.A), International Air Transport Association (I.A.T.A), HEDNA

For further information:

Contact: Diane Clancy, ACRISS Secretariat

Email: secretariat@acriss.org

Web: www.acriss.org

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