In the January 2011 issue of Automotive Fleet magazine, the editorial staff assembled a timeline of major events throughout fleet history. The timeline begins below.

1938

  • Wheels Inc. founded.
  • R.A. Company established by David, Henry, & Nathan Robinson.

1946

  • Lend Lease Cars, Inc. founded.
  • Peterson, Howell & Heather, Inc. founded.

1948

  • National Auto Auction Protective Association (precursor to NAAA) is formed.
  • Automotive Rentals, Inc. (ARI) founded.

1949

  • McCullagh Leasing founded.

1950

  • Chestnut Fleet Rentals (CFR) founded.

1952

  • LMV Leasing (Lease Motor Vehicle Co.) founded.

1945-1953

  • President Harry S. Truman is president, leads the nation during a recession even as car sales continued to climb.

1954

  • National Auto Auction Protective Association reorganizes and changes name to National Auto Auction Association (NAAA).

1955

  • American Automotive Leasing Association (AALA) is formed.

1956

  • Hertz buys leasing firm Robinson Auto Rental of Philadelphia.

1957

  • Enterprise Leasing Co. founded.
  • General Leasing Co. established (later known as GELCO).
  • National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) founded.

1959

  • Wheels Inc. & PH&H install first mainframe computers.

[PAGEBREAK]

1961

  • Bobit Publishing starts.

1962

  • Merchants Leasing founded.
  • Chrysler announces it will enter the car and truck leasing business and forms Chrysler Leasing Corp.

1963

  • Chrysler is the first manufacturer to hold “closed” auction sales.
  • IRS announces it is drawing up permanent regulations permitting a lessor to treat the lessee as purchaser of equipment for investment tax credit.

1964

  • U.S. commits to war in Vietnam.
  • GM announces seat belts will be standard equipment on all its cars.
  • First-Ever NTEA Convention held.
  • Studebaker ends production.
  • United States Fleet Leasing, Inc. (USFL) founded as Vehicle Lease & Management Services Inc.

1965

  • Donlen founded.

1966

  • GM eliminates the vent window on some air-conditioned models.
  • Lessors shocked as Federal Reserve ups interest to 4.5 percent from 4 percent.
  • Hertz merges with RCA and becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary.

1967

  • California moves violation of odometer tampering from misdemeanor to felony charge.
  • GM makes available a finance plan to encourage GM franchisees to participate more aggressively in pursuing fleet business.

1969

  • First AFLA meeting takes place.

[PAGEBREAK]

1971

  • McCullagh and CCIC (Commercial Credit Industrial Corp.) merge.
  • Congress reinstates ITC (Investment Tax Credit).
  • Kerr Leasing, Inc. established.

1972

  • General Leasing Co. changes name to GELCO Corp.
  • GM sets up a “Fleet Distant Delivery Assistance” program to compete with the Ford Authorized Leasing System (FALS) program.

1973

  • OPEC launches an oil embargo against the U.S. and other countries. The fuel shortage resulted in gas rationing, a collapse in V-8 resale values, the start of fleet downsizing, and the shift to FWD cars.

1974

  • House and Senate pass bill killing seat belt ignition interlock.

1976

  • AF debuts annual fleet dealer awards at the AFLA meeting.
  • California Vehicle Leasing Association (CVLA), forerunner to the National Vehicle Leasing Association (NVLA), formed in California.

1977

  • GELCO purchases Econo-car.
  • Bobit Publishing moves to Redondo Beach, Calif. from Glenview, Ill.

1978

  • Associates Leasing founded.
  • IRS considers defining open-end leases as conditional sales.
  • Dart Industries forms Dart Leasing.

1979

  • Prime hits 14 percent.
  • Second fuel crisis occurs during President Carter’s term.
  • NAFA reaches milestone with 2,000th member.

[PAGEBREAK]

1980

  • U.S. Customs hits import mini-pickups with 25-percent tariff.
  • AF publishes first-ever list of Top 100 Business/Corporate fleets.

1981

  • PH&H delivers 1 millionth car, a Ford Escort, to Digital Equipment Corp.
  • PH&H recommends use of four-cylinder cars for 1982-MY.

1982

  • Dart Leasing becomes Dart & Kraft Financial Corp., acquires Gables C&M Leasing.

1983

  • GM begins sale of “program” cars to daily rental companies.

1984

  • NAFRD established.
  • GE Capital Credit Corp. purchases Kerr Leasing.
  • GE Capital Credit Corp. purchases Kerr Leasing.

1985

  • Fleet pioneer Sam Lee passes away.
  • AF announces Jack Lamb of Exxon as first recipient of the Fleet Manager of the Year award.

1986

  • Congress repeals ITC in 1986 Tax Reform Act.
  • Truth in Mileage Act is signed into law.

1987

  • GELCO Fleet Management Services purchased by GE Credit Corp., GE Capital Fleet Services formed.
  • Bank of New England acquires McCullagh Leasing.
  • D&K acquired by GE Capital Credit Corp. (GECC).

1988

  • ServNet formed.

1989

  • First CAFM tests given.

[PAGEBREAK]

1990

  • IRS raises per mile driving rate to 25.5 cents.
  • GM sells 1 millionth auction car.
  • GE Capital Fleet Services acquires McCullagh Leasing.
  • Ford announces driver- and passenger-side supplement air bags will be standard on Ford and Lincoln-Mercury cars starting in the mid-’90s.
  • IRS issues Notice 89-110 in relation to personal use costs.
  • Clean Air Act Amendments become law.

1991

  • Manheim and GE Capital Auto Auctions merge to become a Manheim 46-auction chain.
  • ADESA formed with a group of four auctions.
  • Chrysler purchases General Rent-A-Car.
  • IVECO pulls out of U.S. market.

1992

  • Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 enacted.
  • IRS increases per-mile rate to 28 cents.

1993

  • Anglo American auto auction changes name to ADT Automotive Inc.

1994

  • GSA hires ADT to remarket fleet vehicles.

1995

  • OnStar founded.

1996

  • President Bill Clinton vetoes proposed Luxury Car Tax repeal.
  • First-ever Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) held in Atlanta.

1997

  • Chevrolet/GMC announce the intent to build bi-fuel pickups.
  • Manheim Online sales pass $50 million.
  • General Motors relocates headquarters to Renaissance Center in Detroit.

1998

  • IRS rules drivers can use standard or FAVR rate.

1999

  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created.

[PAGEBREAK]

2000

  • Manheim Online hits half-billion dollars in sales.
  • Side air bag design officially proposed.
  • GM suspends production of the EV1 all-electric vehicle.
  • PH&H changes name to PHH Arval.
  • Automotive Fleet debuts its first e-mail eNewsletter.
  • LeasePlan acquires CSC.

2001

  • Penske Truck Leasing Co. buys Rollins.
  • First-ever Fleet Executive of the Year award announced by Fleet Financials.
  • 9/11 prompts meltdown in residual values; multiple fleet events cancelled.

2002

  • First-ever investigation of crash caused by cell phone occurs in Washington, D.C.
  • MVRs offered online.

2003

  • IRS repeals Luxury Car Tax.

2004

  • GM discontinues Oldsmobile brand.
  • Penske Truck Leasing acquires AMI Leasing truck portfolio.
  • NJ bans hands-held cell phone use.
  • PHH Arval acquires First Fleet Corp.
  • PHH Arval acquires First Fleet Corp.
  • Emkay acquires AMI Leasing business units.
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems proposed.

2005

  • AALA celebrates 50th anniversary.
  • Hurricane Katrina wreaks havoc and destroys approximately 20,000 fleet vehicles.
  • Energy Policy Act of 2005 increases “green” vehicle tax credits.

2006

  • Ford announces the end of Taurus production.
  • ULSD fuel rolled out at pumps nationwide.

2007

  • NAFA celebrates 50th anniversary.
  • NAFA changes name to NAFA Fleet Management Association.

2009

  • GM & Chrysler enter voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Fiat acquires 35-percent stake in Chrysler.
  • Dodge splits into two brands, drops “Dodge” from Ram name.
  • GM discontinues Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer brands.

2010

  • Ford discontinues Mercury brand.
  • Chevrolet launches Volt.

 

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