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Wheels Expands to South America through Interleasing Network

13 November 1998

Wheels Expands to South America through Interleasing Network

    DES PLAINES, Ill., Nov. 12 -- Wheels, a leader in automotive
fleet management, now offers vehicle leasing and management in South America
through its exclusive U.S. membership in the Interleasing network of partners.
    Interleasing is a partnership of premier fleet management and leasing
companies working together to serve the needs of international vehicle fleets.
Localiza of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, the largest car rental company in South
America, has become the 19th Interleasing partner, joining companies in the
United States, Canada, Australia and all countries of Western Europe.
    From its founding with the acquisition of six used Volkswagens 25 years
ago, Localiza has grown to a fleet of more than 17,000 vehicles, offered for
short term hire or long term leases.  The company offers fixed rental, full
maintenance leases and is currently introducing a full range of services,
including vehicle maintenance, collision or repair management and expense and
experience reporting.  Services can be added at the discretion of the client
or customized to suit the needs of a particular fleet.
    "We are delighted that Localiza has agreed to join the Interleasing
partnership," says Fernand Daemers, manager of the Interleasing International
Coordination Center.  "As a result of the requirements of our international
customers, we have been actively looking for a partner in South America and
Localiza is ideally suited to this role.  Localiza is unique in this region,
with its high visibility in the market, depth of knowledge, breadth of
coverage and many years of experience.  This is a major step in our journey to
become a truly global supplier."
    "Brazil was a key target market for us because of its size and the number
of large fleets operating within the country," says Dennis LaLiberty, Vice
President of International Marketing for Wheels, the U.S. Interleasing
partner. "Signing Localiza as a partner gives us a major presence there, plus
bonus coverage in the rest of the South American continent as well."
    An electronic communication network and a database of country-specific
fleet market information support Interleasing partners.  By working together
and in conjunction with key suppliers, Interleasing offers support and advice
to help clients increase fleet effectiveness and control costs throughout the
world.
    Wheels Inc, which pioneered the concept of auto leasing in 1939, provides
a full range of specialized services to help corporations manage their vehicle
fleets.  Wheels, which has 550 employees, manages more than 170,000 vehicles.
Its holding company, Frank Consolidated Enterprises, currently ranks as one of
the largest private companies in the U.S., with more than $1 billion in sales.