MENU
SEARCHSales of commercial and government fleet vehicles from eight manufacturers started 2015 with nearly double-digit gains as major manufacturers such as Ford and General Motors continued shifting car sales away from rental fleets.
Photo of 2016 Chevrolet Silverado courtesy of GM.
Photo of 2016 Chevrolet Silverado courtesy of GM.
Sales of commercial and government fleet vehicles from eight manufacturers started 2015 with nearly double-digit gains as major manufacturers such as Ford and General Motors continued shifting car sales away from rental fleets, according to Automotive Fleet data.
For the month, sales to commercial fleets increased 9.1% to 46,972, and sales to government fleets increased 32.1% to 14,426 vehicles.
Commercial sales of trucks, vans, and SUVs increased 8.9% to 39,663 from a year ago, while sales of cars increased 10% to 7,309 units. Government truck sales increased 23.6% to 11,971, while car sales increased 73.6% to 2,455.
Meanwhile, sales of passenger cars to rental fleets fell 11% to 85,835. Truck sales to rental fleets increased 59.1% to 46,144. Overall rental sales rose 13.5% to 131,979 units.
General Motors and Ford reported increased commercial fleet sales in their January sales reports. GM grew commercial sales by 6% in January and has increased commercial sales 38% since 2013, according to the company. At the same time, GM reduced rental deliveries by 13,000 compared to January of 2015.
"GM expects another significant reduction in rental deliveries in 2016," the company said in a release.
General Motors increased fleet and retail sales of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks by 7% in January.
Ford continues to see strong commercial demand for its F-150 and Transit van. Ford sold 9,631 Transit vans in January, which represents a 51% increase from January of 2014. Total vans sales rose 20% for Ford.
Ford sold 51,540 F-Series vehicles to retail and fleet customers, which was down 5% from a year ago. The average transaction price increased $2,500 and incentive spending fell $500.
"We continue seeing strong commercial fleet orders for F-150 and will be filling more orders this year," said Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service. "As the largest seller of commercial vehicles, this represents good news for Ford trucks and the overall economy."
FCA US doesn't separate fleet and retail sales in its numbers, but reported a 5% increase in January in its Ram Truck brand that supplies fleets with trucks and vans. Sales of Ram pickups increased 5% and the Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City vans "each logged their best January sales ever," according to a release.
In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.
Read More →
AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.
Read More →
As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?
Read More →
Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.
Read More →
A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.
Read More →
This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.
Read More →
In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?
Read More →
In this episode, fleet leaders from municipal, university, and private-sector organizations share a candid EV reality check. From infrastructure setbacks and policy whiplash to grant funding, total cost of ownership, and charging resiliency, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to scale electrification in the real world.
Read More →
A running list of the fleet industry’s most influential leaders, recognized for their lasting impact on commercial fleet management.
Read More →
After a decade of lagging compensation, fleet manager pay is climbing. But expanding responsibilities, larger fleets, and growing complexity continue to redefine the role.
Read More →
