PARSIPPANY, N.J. -

Avis Budget Group announced Monday it has launched a “Mobility Lab” comprised of several locations and a fleet of 5,000 connected vehicles to test fully connected cars and operations in the greater Kansas City, Mo., area.

The new Mobility Lab features more than 20 Avis Car Rental locations, including the Kansas City International Airport, Nebraska’s Eppley Airfield and Lincoln Airport.

The Mobility Lab will provide Avis customers in the Kansas City area real-time inventory counts, mileage management and automated maintenance notification.

“Our Mobility Lab in the greater Kansas City area extends our next-generation mobility initiatives,” Avis Budget Group president and chief executive officer Larry De Shon said in a news release.

“The steps we’re taking with connected car and smart technologies will increase customer satisfaction as well as reduce operational costs in the near term, while also preparing us to meet the evolving needs of consumers, entrepreneurs, corporations and governments, like the City of Kansas City, a recognized global leader for its Smart City advancements,” he explained.

Information gathered from the Mobility Lab will be used to facilitate the enhancement and optimization of Avis’ fleet management capabilities, according to the company.

“Kansas City has a fully integrated suite of smart city initiatives in our community that make it a better place for our citizens and visitors,” Mayor Sylvester James said in the release. “Partnering with Avis Budget Group allows us to make that experience even more efficient and responsive to the needs of 21st Century Kansas Citians and our visitors.”

Additionally, the company announced in May it expects its U.S. fleet to increase by 50,000 more vehicles by early 2018.