Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Tony Fuller - Media Relations
516-222-4690
Elizabeth Logler - Investor Relations
516-222-4795


AVIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN

GARDEN CITY,  N.Y., Aug. 6 -- Avis Rent A Car, Inc. (NYSE:  AVI) announced today
that the Board of Directors has finalized a management plan for the Company. The
announcement  comes as a result of the  acquisition of PHH's Vehicle  Management
Business  and  Wright  Express,  which  closed on June 30,  1999.  Under the new
structure,  the Avis  Management  Team will be comprised  of F. Robert  Salerno,
President  and Chief  Operating  Officer  of Avis Rent A Car,  Inc. - Rental Car
Group,  Kevin M.  Sheehan,  President of Avis Rent A Car,  Inc. - Corporate  and
Business Affairs,  and Mark E. Miller,  President and Chief Operating Officer of
Avis  Rent A Car,  Inc.  -  Vehicle  Management  Services  Group.  The  combined
management team will report directly to the Executive Committee of the Board.

Mr.  Salerno will  continue to direct  Avis' rental car business and Mr.  Miller
will direct Avis' vehicle  management and card service  businesses.  Mr. Sheehan
will be  responsible  for  directing  all of the  corporate  and  administrative
functions,  as well as directing the overall company's  financial  reporting and
investor communication  efforts.  Sheehan has also been tasked with spearheading
the Company's  efforts of maximizing the revenue and  synergistic  opportunities
inherent with the "New" Avis.

"As the recent combination of the businesses  unfolds,  it has become clearer to
us that  Kevin,  Bob and Mark will,  in fact,  provide  the  strongest  team for
leadership,  direction and execution of Avis' goals. We are extremely  confident
that the team will continue to  effectively  position Avis as a global leader of
vehicle  management  and  transportation  solutions."  said  Martin L.  Edelman,
Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee. "We have decided to terminate our
search for a new CEO."

Avis  is  one of the  world's  leading  providers  of  comprehensive  automotive
transportation and vehicle management  solutions,  with strengths in car rental,
vehicle  leasing,  and vehicle  management  services.  Avis  operates the second
largest  general-use  car rental  business in the world,  with  locations in the
United States, Canada,  Australia,  New Zealand and the Latin American Caribbean
region.  Avis operates the vehicle  management and fuel card businesses  through
three separate  units:  PHH North America,  PHH Europe and Wright  Express.  The
services of these units consist of vehicle  leasing and a broad range of vehicle
related fee based  services.  The  Company  manages a fleet of  approximately  1
million   vehicles  and  has  over  3.6  million  fuel  and  maintenance   cards
outstanding. Annually, on a pro forma basis, the Company generates approximately
$4.0 billion in total revenue.