Major Fleet Milestones: 1970 - 1979

As Automotive Fleet celebrates its 60th anniversary, we look back on the major milestones that have influenced fleet management. The third edition of the Top Fleet milestones covers events that occurred between 1970 to 1979.

Below is a sampling of more than 60 key milestones that helped shape the fleet industry in its more than 80 years of existence.

1970

Increased Use of Bailment Pools: There has been an increased utilization of bailment pools to minimize order-to-delivery times. There is a trend for increased utilization of ship-thru upfitting to provide turnkey-ready vehicles at the time of vehicle delivery.

1971

Introduction of ABS Technology: ABS technology, otherwise refered to as the anti-lock braking system, is introduced. This technology stops the wheels locking up during sharp braking, preventing skidding ,and was originally used on trains and Concorde aircraft. Chrysler introduced a computerized, three-channel, four-sensor all-wheel ABS for its 1971 Imperial.

1972

Entry of Import-Badged Vehicles in Fleet: By the 1970s-1980s, import automakers were expanding their marketing efforts toward commercial sales. One by one, overseas-headquartered auto companies began establishing fleet departments: Nissan 1972, Toyota 1975, Volkswagen 1976, Isuzu 1982, Mitsubishi 1983, Subaru 1987, and Mazda 1988. Import-badged companies made successful inroads into pharmaceutical fleets with sedans and smaller vocational fleets with their compact pickup models and low cab-forward medium duties.

Also, as fuel prices rose, fleets began looking for ways to downsize vehicles, which led to increased consideration of import-badged vehicles. These considerations further increased, followed by the Chapter 11 announcements from GM and Chrysler, which prompted fleets to look at non-traditional fleet OEMs. During this time frame, fleet management companies reported seeing an increase in fleet orders for import-badged vehicles.

1973-1974

The Oil Embargo of 1973-1974: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) proclaimed an oil embargo against the U.S. and other nations in October 1973 in response to military support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

This led to fuel shortages, rationing, and price hikes. In terms of fleet, the fuel crisis led to a collapse in V-8 resale values, the start of downsizing of fleet vehicles, the emergence of fuel management programs, and the OEM shift to FWD vehicles.

1974

Expanded Financing Options for Commercial Fleets: In the early years, financing was straightforward and sourced from the manufacturers at Prime or Prime plus one. In the 1970s, financial choices emerged such as fixed- versus floating-rate financing and commercial paper.

1974

Digital dashboard displays: The first digital dashboard display appeared in an Aston Martin Lagonda, and included trip computers, speed, and temperature readings and fuel economy measures. 

1975

Introduction of Catalytic converters: Beginning for the 1975 model year, cars produced for the U.S. market were required to have catalytic converters. Catalytic converters were first developed earlier in 1973 to clean up polluting exhaust fumes by reducing toxic emissions created by engines. The catalytic converters broke down toxic car exhaust into water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

1976

Downsizing Fleet Vehicles: Escalating gasoline prices and ever-increasing acquisition costs, along with changing driver preferences, prompted many corporate fleets to begin downsizing vehicles to reduce acquisition and fuel spend. Fleets also cite corporate sustainability initiatives as another reason for downsizing fleet vehicles.

Also, CAFE mandates forced OEMs to downsize their model lineup. Today’s intermediate-sized fleet sedan would have been classified a compact model in the 1960s-1970s.

1976

Evolving Fleet Remarketing Preferences: Use of brick-and-mortar auctions by commercial fleets expanded to become the primary remarketing channel for used commercial fleet vehicles. Auctions provided fleets a competitive bidding environment, increased return on each unit, and substantive used-vehicle condition reports.

In addition, the advent of auction computerization provided quicker and more accurate processing of used units, decreasing days-to-sale. The proliferation of auction locations throughout the U.S. kept down transportation costs and allowed fleets to maximize resale values by relocating vehicles to take advantage of higher regional market demand for specific models.

1979

U.S. Government Bailout of Chrysler: Chrysler receives $1.5 billion in loans from the government after hovering on the verge of collapse due to sharply declining revenue.