Related: Overall Fleet Sales Down 39% in 2020
Overall Fleet Sales Down 25% in January
Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 153,372, which represented a 25.5% drop from the same time last year.

Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 153,372, which represented a 25.5% drop from the same time last year.
Photo: Pixabay
Commercial fleet sales through January 2021 were down 10.8% compared to same time last year, according to sales data from nine manufacturers, though the month had to compete with a strong January 2020 market that was pre-pandemic.
The decline in commercial fleet sales saw its most significant drop in for the car segment, down 38.6%, year-over-year, though sedans represent the smallest segment volume for commercial fleets. Meanwhile, the truck and SUV segment saw a 8.3% decline. Total commercial fleet sales in January were at 50,363 units.
Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 153,372, which represented a 25.5% drop from the same time last year.
The rental and government fleet segments also both saw overall declines for the month of January 2021.
For rental fleets, there was a 32.6% overall decline in fleet sales during the month, according to sales data. Through January, rental fleet car sales fell by a drastic 15.6%, totaling 35,189 units. Truck and SUV segment sales decreased 40.7% at 52,625 units.
Meanwhile, government fleets also saw declines for each segment. There was a 58.1% decline in cars sold to government fleets in January, and an 18% decline in the truck and SUV segment. Combined, truck, SUV, and car vehicle sales for government fleets amounted to 14,565 units, which reflected a 20.6% decline.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Rental Operations

Get Ready To Roll: No Stopping Self-Driving Rental Cars
The autonomous mobility technology revolution will move at its own pace, but sooner rather than later.
Read More →
Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform
The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.
Read More →
Cross-Pressures, Evolving Trends Drive 2026 Rental Car Industry
A combination of cautious economic behavior, shifts in the rental vehicle market, and technological influences are shaping car rental operator decisions.
Read More →
Government Affairs Executive Wins Leading Rental Car Industry Award
Robert Muhs started in the car rental industry with Avis Budget Group two years before the first International Car Rental Show.
Read More →
Green Motion Expands Its African Presence with Mozambique Launch
This new rental car outlet reflects the growing demand for reliable transportation and the emphasis on sustainable travel across the continent.
Read More →
RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech
Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.
Read More →
NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto
Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.
Read More →
Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics
The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.
Read More →
U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026
LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.
Read More →
Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services
The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.
Read More →
