Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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. 

February 11, 2021
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.

Photo: Pixabay

2 min to read


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.

Ad Loading...

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

Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027

Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.

Read More →
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations

Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.

Read More →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day

A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See

This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.

Read More →
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns

Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.

Read More →
U-Save Mauritius team

U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius

The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030

A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.

Read More →
green and blue bar graphs compare fleet sales June 2025 versus June 2026
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJuly 8, 2026

Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength

June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.

Read More →
Close up of a row of white CUVs in the Surprice Mobility fleet at the Milan airport.

Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport

The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Julian Gritsch with an MBA class in a classroom.

Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry

Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...