Autohellas and Sixt: Driving Excellence in the Car Rental Industry
Jean Jacques André｜WorkN'Play- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Two Giants Setting the Pace
In today's competitive car rental landscape, two companies stand far above the rest: Autohellas and Sixt. According to WorkN'Play's Corporate Intelligence App, these industry leaders have earned "Very High" overall performance ratings of 60.29 and 61.81 respectively, significantly outperforming competitors like Avis Budget Group (53.51), LOTTE Rental (51.78), and others. Their exceptional performance metrics reflect both current strength and positive momentum—critical indicators of future success.
Strategic Growth Through Solid Financing
Sixt's recent successful placement of a €500 million corporate bond highlights its strong market position. With an orderbook four times oversubscribed and a reduced 3.25% coupon (0.50% lower than previous offerings), investor confidence in Sixt's financial stability is evident. This aligns perfectly with the company's stellar corporate debt management performance index (88.89), second only to Autohellas's remarkable 92.59.
Expansion Through Strategic Partnerships
Meanwhile, Autohellas has announced a groundbreaking partnership with CHANGAN, one of China's largest electrified car manufacturers. This collaboration will introduce fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to the Greek market starting October 2025. The partnership demonstrates Autohellas's forward-thinking approach, leveraging its 57.41 production asset management performance rating to expand into the sustainable mobility sector.
Exceptional Working Capital Management
Sixt demonstrates extraordinary efficiency in working capital management with an index of 87.50 (Very High). This rating far surpasses the industry average and competitors, with Autohellas following at 66.67 (High). Sixt's working capital ratio of 2.5 versus the industry average of 0.8 indicates superior liquidity and operational efficiency, allowing for greater flexibility in pursuing growth opportunities.
Superior Bargaining Power
Both companies excel in negotiations with suppliers and customers. Sixt leads with a very high bargaining power index of 73.33, followed by Avis Budget Group (71.67) and Autohellas (68.33). Sixt's Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) of 141 days versus the industry average of 87 days demonstrates exceptional leverage with suppliers, while Autohellas maintains a below-average Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) of 38 days compared to the industry's 48 days.
Cost Management Excellence
Sixt shows remarkable efficiency in cost of goods sold management with a high performance index of 87.04, second only to LOTTE Rental. While Autohellas's score of 64.81 falls below some competitors, its cost structure is well-balanced, with material costs at 81.5% of total expenses versus Sixt's more efficient 48.7%.
Profitability Momentum
Both companies demonstrate impressive profitability metrics. Sixt boasts an 18.1% operating profit margin (industry average: 12.6%) while Autohellas shows extraordinary growth with a 20.4% three-year increase in operating profit margin. Autohellas leads in profitability management with a very high index of 73.33, while Sixt follows with 63.33, both significantly outperforming competitors like Avis Budget Group (23.33).
Human Capital Investment
Autohellas and Sixt show commitment to workforce growth with 34.9% and 26.9% increases in headcount over three years, respectively. However, this area represents a relative weakness for both companies compared to competitors, with medium performance indices of 56.67 for Autohellas and 55.00 for Sixt. Movida Participacoes leads the pack with a 63.33 rating in human capital management.
Marketing Efficiency Challenges
Both companies face challenges in marketing efficiency. Sixt's marketing performance index is very low at 38.33, while Autohellas performs slightly better at 48.33 (medium lower). Both companies have seen negative returns on advertising spend over three years (-8.4% for Autohellas and -38.6% for Sixt), suggesting opportunities for optimization in marketing strategies.
Shareholder Value Creation
Autohellas demonstrates exceptional performance in shareholder returns with a very high index of 68.33 and an impressive 45.3% three-year increase in share price. Sixt shows medium lower performance (71.67) with a 12.3% share price decrease but compensates with extraordinary dividend growth. Both companies significantly outperform the industry average in return on equity growth.
Economic Value Added Leadership
Both companies excel in creating economic value added. Hertz Global and Avis Budget Group lead this category, but Sixt (71.67) and Autohellas (68.33) deliver solid medium lower performances. Sixt has generated $282 million in cumulative economic value added, while Autohellas contributed $48 million—both impressive figures compared to the industry average of -$568 million.
The Power of Performance Metrics
This analysis, powered by WorkN'Play's Corporate Intelligence App—developed by Jean Jacques André—reveals that success in the car rental industry comes from excellence across multiple performance dimensions. By focusing on momentum rather than static indicators, the app identifies companies with sustainable competitive advantages. Autohellas and Sixt demonstrate how sound financial management, strategic investments, and operational excellence translate into market leadership and investor confidence.
