CarTrawler

Legal Name: CarTrawler (Etrawler Unlimited Company)
Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Dundrum, Ireland
Type: Private (owned by TowerBrook Capital)
Categories: Travel B2B (car rental technology)
Markets: Global (connects to 2,500+ car and mobility suppliers in 150 countries)
Parent: TowerBrook (private equity).

Overview: CarTrawler is a leading travel technology provider specializing in car rental distribution. It operates a B2B platform used by airlines, travel agencies and tour operators to offer car hire and mobility products to customers. CarTrawler’s system aggregates offerings from over 2,500 suppliers (major rental companies, local agencies, ride-hailing) across 150 countries. Its solutions power booking engines for companies like easyJet, Emirates and United Airlines, enabling ancillary revenue from ground transport. Founded in Ireland, CarTrawler reports handling tens of millions of rentals per year. In 2024–2025 the company expanded partnerships and added electric vehicle options to its inventory network.

Products and Services: CarTrawler provides white-label booking platforms and APIs to its clients. Travel companies integrate CarTrawler’s API to display and sell car, taxi, and shuttle services. The platform includes real-time rates, availability, and insurance options. CarTrawler also offers analytics tools for pricing and performance. It is organized as a private software firm (Etrawler Unlimited Co.) under TowerBrook. Operations and development teams are based in Dublin, with sales offices worldwide. CarTrawler continually adds new mobility suppliers (e.g., urban bike or carshare services) to meet evolving travel needs.

Key Dates:
– 2004: CarTrawler founded (formerly “eTravel Online”).
– 2010: Signs first major airline partner (e.g. Aer Lingus).
– 2012: Expands to North America; network grows to 1,000 suppliers.
– 2015: Launches dynamic pricing and yield-management tools.
– 2020: Majority stake acquired by TowerBrook. Company weathers COVID downturn.
– 2023: Reports €173.8M revenue for FY (post-pandemic recovery).
– 2025: Onboards new brands and adds 100% EV rental options, enhancing its green mobility offerings.