Commercial Fleet Sales Down 6.3% in July

Commercial fleet sales from nine manufacturers totaled 62,706 in July 2020, representing a 6.3% overall decrease when compared to the same time last year, though the market is improving and car sales were at their highest levels all year.

Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 104,769, which represented a 40% drop from the same time last year. While the commercial and government segments showed strong signs of recovery, sales in the rental market have continued to struggle through the pandemic.

While the truck and SUV segment for the commercial market in July saw a 9.6% decline, the drop was not as significant as seen in previous months. Meanwhile, commercial car sales were up 32.3% year-over-year at 7,028 units, showing a strong recovery during the pandemic, according to Automotive Fleet data. 

Conversely, the rental fleet segment has not seen improvements like that of the commercial market, and has continued its monthly declines.

Through July 2020, rental fleet car sales fell by a drastic 92.3% totaling 2,950 units. Truck and SUV segment sales decreased 78.4% at 10,651 units. Combined, rental fleet sales totaled 13,601, which represented a 84.5% year-over-year decline. However, the declines in each segment were not as significant as seen in June.

Meanwhile, the government fleet sector saw major recovery in July. There were 3,551 cars sold to government fleets, representing a 12.8% increase, and truck and SUV sales were at 24,911 units, representing a significant 47.1% increase. Combined, truck, SUV, and car vehicle sales for government fleets amounted to 28,462 units, which reflected a notable 41.7% increase.

Year-to-date, as of July 2020, overall fleet sales from nine manufacturers total 1,028,372, 43.2% less on a year-over-year basis, indicating there is still a long road to recovery for 2020. So far car sales are down 57.9% year-to-date and truck and SUV segment sales are down 37.3% year-to-date, impacted heavily by the declines of the rental market.