Commercial, rental, and government fleet sales in May totaled 216,917 vehicles, flatlining at a minuscule 0.1% increase from 216,378 vehicles sold in May 2024, according to Bobit Business Media fleet numbers released on June 5.

However, those numbers rose monthly compared to April 2025, which had fleet sales at 207,582 vehicles, up 2.6% compared to 202,309 vehicles sold in April 2024.

The fleet sales plateau last month saw rental fleets once again stand up and partially offset a mild decline in commercial fleet sales and another steep drop in government fleet sales. This resulted in a third straight month of a modest YOY increase in total fleet sales since October 2024.

Fleet sales year-to-date dipped 1.8% to 1,007,693 vehicles sold, compared to 1,025,942 during the first five months of 2024.

May fleet sales by sector were:

• Commercial fleet sales numbered 78,058 vehicles in May compared to 82,320 in May 2024, off 5.2%.

• Rental fleet sales rose 8.1% year-over-year in May at 116,310 vehicles compared to 107,551 in May 2024.

• Government fleet sales sank 16.5% last month, from 26,507 vehicles in May 2024 to 22,129 last month. [Government fleet totals included only numbers from Ford, GM, and Stellantis. The big six major Asian-based automakers did not report any monthly government fleet sales].

Rental fleet sales are the only fleet sector still increasing year-to-date at 581,045 vehicles sold, up 5.9% compared to 548,927 vehicles sold in January-May of 2024.

"Fleet sales were muted in May after rising for the last couple of months, on the back of reduced inventory available for sale,” said Jeremy Robb, senior director of economic and industry insights at Cox Automotive, in a June 13 email.  “After seeing much stronger new car retail sales in March and April, those trends began to slow in May, although production pullbacks have not allowed overall inventory levels to fill in the gaps due to the impact from tariffs."

Robb added that with lower new days’ supply, fleet sales were more subdued overall, resulting in steady year-over-year (YOY) sales levels against 2024. 

While rental fleet market sales increased 8.1% YOY, the third rise in a row and the only segment showing a gain, government fleet sales were down 17% YOY, showing a continued decline, Robb said. “The decline in government fleet sales could be related to the DOGE cuts to government spending and curtailing of people employed in the sector. Until new vehicle supply trends show some pickups, fleet sales will likely remain subdued in the coming months.”

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 statistics include cars, SUVs, and trucks.