Fleet sales of cars, trucks and SUVs turned down noticeably in February year over year but were up by sizable margins compared to January. 

Among the three major fleet sectors, February 2025 sales totaled 195,892 vehicles, declining 12.3% compared to 223,263 vehicles sold in February 2024. However, fleet sales were up 19% from the 157,772 vehicles sold in January.

February feet sales by fleet sector were:

• Commercial fleet sales numbered 61,368 vehicles in February compared to 67,565 in February 2024, a decline of 9.2%.

• Rental fleets declined 13.3% year-over-year in February at 116,141 vehicles sold compared to 133,961 in February 2024.

• Government fleet sales last month were 18,383 vehicles, falling 15.4% from 21,737 in February 2024. [Government fleet totals include numbers from Ford, GM, and Stellantis only. The six major Asian-based automakers did not report any monthly fleet sales].

Year-to-date numbers from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 show 353,664 fleet vehicles sold, compared to 382,422 sold during the same period last year, for a 7.5% dip.

In analyzing the numbers, Jeremy Robb, senior director of economic and industry insights for Cox Automotive, noted the weaker February numbers across all fleet sales channels stand out. On the margins, the uncertainty with Canadian and Mexican tariffs and the economy is likely driving the decline.

"The other factor at play is the strength of the February numbers from 2024," Robb said. "February 2024 fleet sales were one of the best months of the year, and at that time, they were up 21% against 2023. So the stronger yearly comparison could be part of the weakness in sales being down by 12% overall in February 2025. Time will tell if the weakness was a bit more from economic uncertainty from fleet purchasers due to tariffs and the economy."

Robb added that the overall picture confirms how changes to economic policies heavily influence customers deciding whether to buy fleet vehicles and underscores the fleet industry’s caution about the secondary market effects of tariff policies.

Bobit Business Media (BBM), owner of Automotive Fleet, Vehicle Remarketing, Government Fleet, and Auto Rental News, compiles fleet sales numbers that reflect aggregate figures from the three major Detroit-based auto manufacturers and the Asian Big 6 automakers. The figures include cars, SUVs, and trucks.