 To circumvent the criticism, he established the "Spijker Automobiel Verhuur Maatschappij" which along with Amsterdam's "Trompenburg Bedrijf" became the first auto rental companies in the Netherlands.One of his other companies was the "American Refined Motor Company", which helped improve mechanical motor parts.This all stemmed from an automobile accident that he, Hofstede Crull, and his chauffeur, a man named Poorthuis, had in 1909 when he subsequently discovered a defect in the Spijker's steering mechanism which he improved.