Sixt

Corporate brand

German multinational mobility provider known for premium vehicle rental and an expanding portfolio of car-sharing, ride-hailing and subscription services.

Last updated August 21, 2026

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Overview

Sixt is a German multinational mobility-services provider headquartered in Pullach near Munich. Founded by Martin Sixt in 1912 with a fleet of three vehicles, the business began as one of Bavaria’s earliest car-rental operations and later developed adjacent taxi, chauffeur, leasing and fleet-management activities. Today, Sixt SE serves as the parent and holding company of the Sixt Group, whose principal activities include vehicle rental, car sharing, ride-hailing, vehicle subscriptions and related mobility services. The company’s history has been shaped by repeated reinvention. Its original fleet was confiscated during the First World War, and operations were later restarted before being seized again at the beginning of the Second World War. After 1945, Sixt rebuilt by operating taxis for United States Army personnel stationed in Germany and then establishing a Munich taxi business that used radio dispatching. The dedicated rental business was re-established as Auto Sixt in 1951. During the 1980s and 1990s, Sixt moved from a family-operated rental company toward a corporate group. Auto Sixt became Sixt Autovermietung GmbH, the group was converted into Sixt AG in 1986, and Sixt Leasing GmbH was established in 1988. In 1993, the operating rental business was transferred to a subsidiary while the listed company increasingly functioned as a holding company. Sixt also briefly acquired assets associated with Buchbinder, although the Buchbinder name later returned to the market. Sixt has historically positioned itself toward the premium and upper-mid-market segments, emphasizing relatively new vehicles, upscale brands, prominent airport and city locations, digital booking and a distinctive advertising style. Its offering is broader than conventional short-term rental: customers can use the brand for daily and multi-week rentals, corporate mobility, car sharing, ride-hailing and subscription-based access. The company operates through a mixture of company-owned stations, subsidiaries, partnerships and franchises. The group has about 2,000 locations in more than 100 countries. International expansion accelerated in the 2010s. Sixt opened its first United States branch in Florida in 2011 and later expanded through airport concessions and partnerships. It converted from Sixt AG to the European Company form Sixt SE in 2013. In 2018, it sold its interest in the DriveNow car-sharing joint venture to BMW, and in 2019 introduced the Sixt mobility platform and Sixt Share car-sharing service, bringing rental, sharing, ride-hailing and subscriptions together in one application. The company continued to adjust its portfolio in the 2020s. It sold Sixt Leasing SE in 2020 to concentrate on mobility services, acquired airport concessions from Advantage Rent a Car in the United States, and formed a rental-access partnership with Lyft. Its international franchise network expanded into Australia through a partnership with the NRMA in 2021. Sixt was an early European rental adopter of BYD vehicles in 2022, while its later fleet decisions reflected the changing economics of electric vehicles, residual values and manufacturer pricing. In late 2023 it announced plans to phase out Teslas from its fleet and subsequently announced a large vehicle-purchasing agreement with Stellantis covering combustion, plug-in hybrid and electric models. Sixt remains majority controlled by the Sixt family, while part of the company’s share capital is publicly traded. The group reported global revenue above €4 billion in 2024, according to the supplied reference material, and continued operating a substantial United States network alongside its European base.

History

Martin Sixt founded the company in 1912 with three cars, creating an early Bavarian car-rental business. The First World War interrupted operations when the fleet was confiscated for military use. Following the war, the business resumed, but the outbreak of the Second World War brought another seizure of its vehicles. After 1945, Sixt rebuilt by providing taxis for U.S. Army personnel in Germany and then operating a Munich taxi service with radio dispatching. The dedicated rental operation, Auto Sixt, was established in 1951. The business entered a period of formal corporate development in the 1980s. Auto Sixt was renamed Sixt Autovermietung GmbH in 1982, became Sixt AG in 1986 and established Sixt Leasing GmbH in 1988. In 1993, the operating rental business was transferred to a separate subsidiary, leaving Sixt AG to function primarily as the group’s holding company. That year, Sixt acquired assets of Autoverleih Buchbinder, although the Buchbinder brand was subsequently revived after Sixt did not secure continuing naming rights. The 1990s also brought a significant legal setback. In 1999, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ruled that Sixt had unlawfully controlled the prices charged by independent franchisees through its nationwide reservation system. The decision treated the practice as impermissible resale-price fixing and required compensation for affected franchisees. In 2003, the company defended itself against stock-market speculation by Florian Homm, who was later fined for market manipulation. In 2005, Sixt became the first German company to use a statutory option not to disclose management remuneration without a qualifying shareholder vote. The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority, supported by the voting control associated with then-chief executive Erich Sixt’s ordinary shares. In 2006, Sixt attempted to acquire Europcar after Volkswagen put the rival up for sale. The proposed combination raised antitrust concerns because of the companies’ large German market shares, while Europcar’s works council expressed concern about possible job losses. Volkswagen instead selected Eurazeo as buyer. During the following decade, Sixt expanded its online automotive activities and international rental network. It opened its first U.S. branch in Florida in 2011 and changed its legal form from Sixt AG to Sixt SE in 2013. The conversion was accompanied by the creation of the Sixt Europe Leaders Forum, a European works-council structure. Sixt Leasing was separately floated on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2015. The company reshaped its mobility portfolio in the late 2010s. In 2018 it sold its DriveNow stake to BMW, and in 2019 launched a proprietary mobility platform and Sixt Share. These initiatives combined conventional rental with car sharing, ride-hailing and subscriptions through a unified digital interface. In 2020, Sixt sold Sixt Leasing SE and acquired ten airport concessions from Advantage Rent a Car in the United States. It also announced a rental partnership with Lyft. A partnership with Australia’s NRMA extended the brand into Australia in 2021, while Sixt added BYD vehicles to its European fleet in 2022. Fleet strategy became especially prominent from 2023 onward. Sixt announced that it would phase Teslas out of its fleet after manufacturer price cuts weakened residual values. It later announced a potential order of up to 250,000 vehicles from Stellantis, spanning internal-combustion, plug-in hybrid and electric models for Europe and North America. The group continued to balance electrification goals with utilization, resale economics and customer demand. By the end of 2024 it operated more than 100 U.S. branches across 25 states, including approximately 50 airport locations, and reported annual global revenue above €4 billion in the supplied reference material. Sixt remains majority owned and managed by the Sixt family, with publicly traded shares completing the ownership structure.

2024
Revenue exceeds four billion euros
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt records global revenue above €4 billion for the first time, according to the supplied reference material.
2022
BYD vehicles added
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt becomes the first European rental company to offer BYD vehicles.
2021
Australian expansion
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt enters Australia through a partnership with the NRMA.
2020
U.S. airport expansion
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt acquires ten airport concessions from Advantage Rent a Car.
2019
Sixt Share launched
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt launches its own car-sharing service within an integrated mobility platform.
2018
DriveNow stake sold
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt sells its DriveNow shares to joint-venture partner BMW.
2015
Sixt Leasing public offering
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt Leasing AG is brought to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
2013
Sixt becomes a European Company
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt AG changes its legal form to Sixt SE and establishes a European works-council forum.
2011
First U.S. branch
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt opens its first U.S. location in Florida.
1999
Federal Court pricing judgment
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Germany’s Federal Court of Justice rules against Sixt’s franchise pricing practices.
1988
Sixt Leasing established
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Sixt creates Sixt Leasing GmbH as a subsidiary.
1986
Conversion to Sixt AG
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
The company becomes Sixt AG, a corporation traded on the German stock exchange.
1951
Auto Sixt founded
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
The dedicated car-rental company Auto Sixt is established after the postwar reconstruction of the business.
1912
Company founded
[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Martin Sixt establishes the business with a fleet of three cars in Bavaria.

Products and positioning

Premium and upper-mid-market mobility provider combining upscale vehicle access, digital convenience, broad international coverage and a recognizable, attention-oriented brand voice.

Vehicle rental · 1951
Sixt Rent
The core Sixt rental service provides short-term and extended access to cars and vans through airport, city and neighborhood stations. The brand is associated with premium and upper-mid-market vehicles, digital reservation and a broad international network serving leisure, business and replacement-rental customers.
Car sharing · 2019
Sixt Share
Sixt Share is the company’s car-sharing service, introduced as part of the group’s broader mobility platform. It extends the brand beyond station-based rental by allowing customers to access vehicles through a digital application and use the service for shorter urban trips.
Ride-hailing and chauffeur services · 2019
Sixt ride
Sixt ride covers booked rides and chauffeur-oriented mobility services within the Sixt ecosystem. It complements self-drive rental by giving customers an option to arrange transportation without driving the vehicle themselves.
Vehicle subscription
Sixt+
Sixt+ is the group’s subscription-oriented vehicle-access proposition. It is designed for customers who want continuing access to a vehicle without relying solely on conventional daily rental, and forms part of Sixt’s effort to combine different mobility formats in one brand and application.
Vehicle leasing · 1988
Sixt Leasing
Sixt Leasing was established as a group subsidiary in 1988 and developed leasing and fleet-related services. Sixt later sold its shares in Sixt Leasing SE in 2020 as it refocused its corporate portfolio on mobility services.

Controversies

2010
Dispute over works council allegations
Former employees alleged that Sixt opposed establishing a works council. Management rejected the allegation. The dispute is part of the company’s labor-relations history, but the supplied material does not establish a final finding against Sixt.
Source
1999
Illegal franchise price fixing
Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ruled that Sixt had effectively controlled prices charged by independent franchisees through its reservation system. The practice was treated as unlawful resale-price fixing, and Sixt was required to pay damages to franchisees.
Source

2023NBA team sponsorships
United States
Sixt began sponsoring the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls in October 2023, linking its U.S. expansion with high-profile professional basketball properties.
Outcome. Brand sponsorships with both NBA teams began in 2023.
Source
2020Galatasaray sponsorship
Turkey
Sixt signed a sponsorship agreement with Galatasaray before the 2020–21 Süper Lig season, using a prominent football partnership to increase visibility in the Turkish market.
Outcome. Sponsorship commenced for the 2020–21 season.
Source

Brand decisions

2024
Stellantis fleet orderOther
Background
Sixt was adjusting its fleet mix amid changing economics for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Action taken
The company announced plans to buy as many as 250,000 Stellantis vehicles for Europe and North America.
Aftermath
The planned order would diversify the fleet across combustion, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains while supporting Sixt’s international expansion.
Source
2023
Tesla fleet phase-outStrategy
Background
Tesla vehicle price reductions weakened the residual values of Teslas held in Sixt’s rental fleet.
Action taken
Sixt announced that it would phase Teslas out of its lineup.
Aftermath
The decision highlighted the importance of residual-value risk in rental-fleet electrification.
Source
2020
Divestment of Sixt LeasingM&A
Background
Sixt reviewed its portfolio during a period of mobility-industry change.
Action taken
The group sold all shares in Sixt Leasing SE.
Aftermath
The divestment supported a strategic focus on rental and other mobility services.
Source
2019
Integrated mobility platformProduct launch
Background
Sixt sought to move beyond conventional rental by bringing multiple mobility formats into a single customer experience.
Action taken
The company launched a mobility platform and Sixt Share, combining rental, car sharing, ride-hailing and subscriptions in one application.
Aftermath
Sixt expanded its identity from a rental company toward a broader mobility provider.
Source
2018
Sale of DriveNow stakeM&A
Background
Sixt held an interest in DriveNow, the car-sharing joint venture with BMW.
Action taken
Sixt sold its shares to BMW.
Aftermath
BMW obtained full control of DriveNow, while Sixt redirected resources toward its own mobility platform and Sixt Share.
Transaction value. €209 million (2018)
Source
2006
Bid for EuropcarM&A
Background
Volkswagen offered Europcar for sale, and Sixt sought to acquire the competitor. The proposed combination would have brought together two major German rental operators and raised competition concerns.
Action taken
Sixt submitted a takeover bid, but Volkswagen ultimately accepted Eurazeo’s offer after antitrust and employee-representation concerns emerged.
Aftermath
Sixt did not acquire Europcar, which was sold to Eurazeo.
- Europcar — Its works council expressed concern about possible employment effects from a Sixt combination.
Source

Recent events

2024
Sixt announces large Stellantis vehicle order[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Sixt announced a planned purchase of as many as 250,000 Stellantis vehicles for Europe and North America, including combustion, plug-in hybrid and electric models.
2023
Sixt announces Tesla phase-out[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Product generation
Sixt said it was phasing Teslas out of its rental fleet after price reductions affected the residual values of vehicles in its fleet.
2023
Sixt sponsorships expand to Galatasaray and NBA teams[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Campaign
Sixt sponsored Galatasaray from the 2020–21 Turkish Süper Lig season and began sponsoring the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls in October 2023.
2022
Sixt adds BYD vehicles to European rental fleet[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Product launch · Product generation
Sixt became the first European car-rental company to offer BYD vehicles, broadening its electric-vehicle selection.
2021
Sixt expands into Australia through NRMA partnership[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Other
A partnership with the NRMA brought the Sixt brand to Australia through a franchised network of branches and vehicles.
2020
Sixt sells Sixt Leasing SE[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
M&A
The group sold all of its shares in Sixt Leasing SE as part of a strategy to concentrate on mobility services.
2020
Sixt acquires Advantage airport concessions in the United States[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
M&A
Sixt acquired ten U.S. airport concessions from Advantage Rent a Car, increasing its American station network to more than 85 locations at the time.
2020
Sixt and Lyft announce rental partnership[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Other
Lyft and Sixt announced an arrangement allowing Lyft users to access car rentals from both partners through the Lyft application.
2019
Sixt launches integrated mobility platform and Sixt Share[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Sixt introduced a mobility platform combining rental, car sharing, ride-hailing and subscription services in one application.
2018
Sixt sells DriveNow interest to BMW[1]Sixten.wikipedia.org
M&A
Sixt sold its stake in the DriveNow car-sharing joint venture to BMW for €209 million, allowing BMW to take full control of the service.

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