Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Commercial Fleet Sales Increased 10.3% in October

Commercial sales increased 10.3% in October, while sales to government agencies increased 1%. Sales into daily rental increased 0.2%.

Paul Clinton
Paul ClintonFormer Senior Web Editor
November 1, 2018
Commercial Fleet Sales Increased 10.3% in October

Sales into the three fleet segments in October increased 6.8% to 2.29 million.

Photo courtesy of Ford, GM, FCA, and Nissan.

2 min to read


Sales of vehicles to commercial fleets from eight manufactures increased 10.3% to 54,920 in October compared to a year ago as sales of trucks, vans, and SUVs increased 7% to 48,437 and provided about 89% of the volume while fleet sales of passenger cars surged 42.6% to 6,483.

For the year so far, sales to commercial fleets have increased 9.3% to 622,052. Truck-based sales have increased 10.2% to 549,276, while car sales have increased 3.3% to 72,776, according to Automotive Fleet data.

Ad Loading...

Sales to government fleets from four manufacturers increased 1% to 21,363. Truck-based sales increased 8.6% to 18,211 and car sales declined 28% to 3,152. For the year, government sales have increased 1.8% to 226,514. Truck sales have increased 5.1% to 189,434 and car sales have fallen 12.3% to 37,080.

Daily rental sales from nine manufacturers increased 0.2% to 128,090 units. Truck-based sales fell 6% to 61,296 units, while car sales increased 6.7% to 66,794 units. Year-to-date sales have increased 6.6% to 1.44 million vehicles with a 12% decline in car sales to 567,291 and a 23.6% increase in truck-based sales to 873,848 units.

For all three segments, fleet sales in October increased 2.8% from a year ago to 204,373 units with a 0.6% gain in truck sales to 127,944 and a 6.9% increase in car sales to 76,429. For the year so far, sales into the three fleet segments have increased 6.8% to 2.29 million. While truck-based sales have increased 16.4% to 1.61 million, car sales have fallen 10.6% to 677,147.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Rental Operations

plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operationsby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental OperationsSeptember 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
Ad Loading...
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental OperationsSeptember 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental OperationsSeptember 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
Ad Loading...
map of globe with regional corporate car rental rates
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 25, 2026

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%

Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.

Read More →
Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...