The mobility industry is evolving faster than ever, requiring operators to rethink customer experiences, embrace new technology, and find new ways to create value in a changing market.

Ryan Kerzner, senior associate at The Merlin Group, joins The Mobility Perspective to discuss his 25-year journey across car rental, fleet management, EV infrastructure, and mobility innovation. From starting at Budget Rent A Car to helping companies develop go-to-market strategies, Ryan shares how the rental industry has transformed through digital experiences, rideshare disruption, autonomous vehicles, and AI-powered solutions. He also explores what operators need to consider today, including improving profitability through data, navigating EV adoption, preparing for autonomous mobility, and building a differentiated business by finding the right niche in an increasingly competitive market.

Key takeaways:

• Customer experience is the foundation of mobility, with frictionless service and better interactions shaping long term customer loyalty.
• AI and data are helping operators improve efficiency, optimize fleets, and create smarter solutions across the rental industry.
• Independent operators can stay competitive by finding a niche, adapting to change, and creating unique value for customers.

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Meet Ryan Kerzner

(00:58) Ryan Kerzner’s 25 year journey across mobility and fleet

(04:33) Why customer service defines the car rental experience

(05:38) From paper contracts to frictionless digital rentals

(08:16) How Uber and Lyft changed the car rental industry

(10:09) Preparing for autonomous vehicles and the future of mobility

(12:06) Using data to improve profitability and fleet operations

(15:17) How AI is transforming rental operations and customer service

(19:14) The evolving EV market and the future of electric vehicles

(25:51) Finding a niche and competing as an independent rental operator

Resources:

Ryan Kerzner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerzner/

Explore The Merlin Group: https://www.themerlingroup.co/

Don Lefeve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-lefeve/

Carlos Bazan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cabazan/

Sharky Laguana on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharkylaguana/

Explore American Car Rental Association: https://www.acradrivesamerica.org/

Running a rental fleet today takes more than vehicles on the lot. It takes creative vision, industry advocacy, and the resilience to navigate financial crises, market bubbles, and shifting technology.

Rudy Callegari, co-founder of Edge Auto Rental and Coalition for American Production, joins The Mobility Perspective to discuss what nearly two decades building a niche entertainment-industry rental company can teach transportation leaders about staying nimble. From his roots as a film and TV producer to building a fleet of nearly a thousand vehicles serving concerts, productions, retail, and specialty B2B clients across the New York market, Rudy shares how independent operators can thrive by finding an underserved niche and becoming deeply embedded in it. He also breaks down the challenges rental companies face today, including rising interest rates, vehicle theft and fraud, EV resale risk, offshoring pressures on the entertainment industry, and the fight to keep small businesses supported at the federal level.

Key takeaways:

• Finding an underserved niche lets smaller operators compete by staying close to industry demand and building a brand around specialized service.
• Financial discipline is a major business advantage, with interest rates, vehicle costs, and residual value all shaping long term fleet profitability.
• Transportation leaders need resilience as economic crises, labor costs, and shifting technology change operating conditions quickly.

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Meet Rudy Callegari

(01:07) Founding Edge Auto Rental for the entertainment industry

(03:27) From film producer to car rental founder

(05:07) Managing the transition from scripted to unscripted business

(09:15) Surviving 2008's financial crisis and high interest rates

(17:41) Starting with one vehicle and growing to a thousand

(15:16) Becoming the go-to for niche B2B rental needs

(16:56) Outsourcing, offshoring, and advocating for American production

(17:39) Navigating EV resale risk and the future of driving

(20:11) Advocating for small businesses in Washington

(23:44) Wild celebrity encounters from Scorsese to Timothy Leary

Resources:

Rudy Callegari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-callegari-a59a607/

Explore Coalition for American Production: https://usacap.org/
Explore Edge Auto Rental: https://www.edgeautorental.com/

Don Lefeve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-lefeve/

Carlos Bazan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cabazan/

Sharky Laguana on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharkylaguana/

Explore American Car Rental Association: https://www.acradrivesamerica.org/

Running a rental fleet today takes more than vehicles on the lot. It takes disciplined operations, customer screening, smart debt management, and the ability to withstand whatever the market throws next.

Ian Kusinitz, President and CEO of Empire Rent A Car, joins The Mobility Perspective to discuss what more than five decades in the rental business can teach transportation leaders about resilience. From growing up in a family run rental operation to serving last mile logistics, entertainment, group travel, and specialty van customers across the New York market, Ian shares how independent operators can compete by staying nimble, diversified, and deeply connected to real world demand. He also breaks down the risks rental companies face every day, including fraud, theft, insurance exposure, rising vehicle costs, tight margins, and changing transportation policy.

Key takeaways:

• Independent rental operators can compete by moving faster than larger companies, staying close to customer needs, and adapting fleet strategy to market shifts.
• Vehicle lifecycle management is a major business advantage, with maintenance, depreciation, debt, and remarketing all influencing long term fleet profitability.
• Transportation leaders need resilience as regulation, insurance, economic pressure, and mobility shifts change operating conditions quickly.

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Meet Ian Kusinitz

(01:21) Inside Empire Rent A Car

(02:32) Growing up in the rental business

(05:16) Why independent operators move differently

(07:27) The shift toward vans and last mile logistics

(08:07) How diversification builds resilience

(10:08) Why customer screening matters in rental

(11:21) Managing theft, fraud, and rental risk

(15:57) What fleet correction means for operators

(17:26) Why longer vehicle lifecycles matter

(18:33) How to stay out of the debt zone

(23:28) Surviving regulation, crisis, and market pressure

Resources:

Ian Kusinitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-kusinitz-601a83b5/

Explore Empire Rent A Car: https://www.empirerac.com/

Don Lefeve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-lefeve/

Carlos Bazan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cabazan/

Sharky Laguana on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharkylaguana/

Explore American Car Rental Association: https://www.acradrivesamerica.org/