For those not in tune with the Jeep Wrangler community, there's a thing called "ducking." In short, Wrangler owners carry rubber ducks around, and when they see another Wrangler parked, they put a duck on the hood. It's a friendly gesture from one Wrangler owner to another, but the history of how this all started isn't important right now.
What is important is that you could partake in the whole Wrangler-duck thing without owning a Jeep. Hertz now has brand-new Wrangler 4xe hybrids in its rental fleet for the summer. And some will have ducks inside.
"We are thrilled to add the Jeep Wrangler 4xe to our expansive lineup of new cars, trucks and SUVs for rent at Hertz and give customers a taste of what it's like to be a Wrangler owner," said Hertz Executive VP of North America Henry Kuykendall. "The Jeep Wrangler is iconic and always in high demand for the summer. With the perfect blend of ruggedness and the latest tech features, the 4xe models are sure to delight those who are seeking ultimate freedom and adventure in their travels."
While there are ducks inside some Hertz Wranglers, you may not want to give them away. They are part of a special promotion for renters, and if you find one, you could get some discounts or upgrades from Hertz. As for exactly what that means, Hertz doesn't specify. But the ducks are apparently branded specifically for this Hertz-Jeep mashup, and you can keep it for some actual Jeep ducking should you find one.
This certainly isn't the first time Hertz has offered specialty vehicles to the public for rent. The infamous Shelby GT350H Mustangs appeared in the 1960s and have returned periodically since then. Most recently, Hertz had a fleet of Shelby-branded Mach-E electric Mustangs. Camaros and Corvettes have also been offered from time to time.
The Jeep Wrangler promotion comes as Hertz fights to restore its public image after problems with renters getting falsely arrested for vehicle theft. The rental company ultimately agreed to a $168 million settlement in that case.
