Southeast Toyota Names Fleet Operations VP
Southeast Toyota Distributors has promoted Mike Bessette to vice president of fleet operations to oversee sales and processing of Toyota vehicles to commercial, government, and rental fleets.
Bessette
Bessette
Southeast Toyota Distributors has promoted Mike Bessette to vice president of fleet operations to oversee sales and processing of Toyota vehicles to commercial, government, and rental fleets.
Bessette, 53, will also oversee the Toyota Rent A Car (TRAC) program in the region that offers Toyota rentals to customers at participating dealerships.
Bessette had served as assistant vice president of fleet operations prior to his promotion. He joined Southeast Toyota in 2005, and since then has held various roles including area training manager, regional fleet manager, and fleet director.
Prior to 2005, Bessette worked for Hertz Corp., Budget Rent A Car, and American Road Collection, the first authorized Harley-Davidson rental company.
Southeast Toyota distributes vehicles to 176 Toyota dealerships in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Its dealers sell about 20% of the Toyotas sold in the U.S.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Rental Operations
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →