Nov 12 (Reuters) - Rental car firm Hertz Global ( HTZ )

reported a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss and missed

revenue estimates on Tuesday, hurt by high depreciation charges

from its fleet vehicles, sending its shares down more than 4%.

The company recorded a $1 billion asset impairment charge

during the quarter, citing a decline in fleet values over the

last year following an overall decline in car prices as

consumers delay large purchases in an uncertain economy.

Earlier this year, the company said it would slim down its

vehicle inventory, with a sale of about 30,000 electric vehicles

including Tesla cars, citing higher repair costs

related to the vehicles.

But cooling used car demand could prove to be a headwind for

Hertz, which had placed a bet on EVs with a massive order to buy

roughly 100,000 Tesla cars in 2021.

In its latest report, market research firm Cox Automotive

said that affordability remains a challenge for consumers, with

fewer models for sale in the $15,000 price bracket, which is

more popular among used car buyers.

Hertz's depreciation per unit surged 89% to $537 million in

the quarter ended Sept. 30 from a year earlier.

On an adjusted basis, the company lost 68 cents per share

compared with analysts' average estimate of a loss of 50 cents,

according to data compiled by LSEG.

Overall quarterly sales fell 5% to $2.58 billion from a year

earlier, compared with analysts' estimates of about $2.7

billion.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini

Ganguli)