In the January 2011 issue of Automotive Fleet magazine, the editorial staff assembled a timeline of major events throughout fleet history. The timeline begins below.

1938

• Wheels Inc. founded.

• R.A. Company established by David, Henry, & Nathan Robinson.

1946

• Lend Lease Cars, Inc. founded.

• Peterson, Howell & Heather, Inc. founded.

1948

• National Auto Auction Protective Association (precursor to NAAA) is formed.

• Automotive Rentals, Inc. (ARI) founded.

1949

• McCullagh Leasing founded.

1950

• Chestnut Fleet Rentals (CFR) founded.

1952

• LMV Leasing (Lease Motor Vehicle Co.) founded.

1945-1953

• President Harry S. Truman is president, leads the nation during a recession even as car sales continued to climb.

1954

• National Auto Auction Protective Association reorganizes and changes name to National Auto Auction Association (NAAA).

1955

• American Automotive Leasing Association (AALA) is formed.

1956

• Hertz buys leasing firm Robinson Auto Rental of Philadelphia.

1957

• Enterprise Leasing Co. founded.

• General Leasing Co. established (later known as GELCO).

• National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) founded.

1959

• Wheels Inc. & PH&H install first mainframe computers.

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1961

• Bobit Publishing starts.

1962

• Merchants Leasing founded.

• Chrysler announces it will enter the car and truck leasing business and forms Chrysler Leasing Corp.

1963

• Chrysler is the first manufacturer to hold “closed” auction sales.

• IRS announces it is drawing up permanent regulations permitting a lessor to treat the lessee as purchaser of equipment for investment tax credit.

1964

• U.S. commits to war in Vietnam.

• GM announces seat belts will be standard equipment on all its cars.

• First-Ever NTEA Convention held.

• Studebaker ends production.

• United States Fleet Leasing, Inc. (USFL) founded as Vehicle Lease & Management Services Inc.

1965

• Donlen founded.

1966

• GM eliminates the vent window on some air-conditioned models.

• Lessors shocked as Federal Reserve ups interest to 4.5 percent from 4 percent.

• Hertz merges with RCA and becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary.

1967

• California moves violation of odometer tampering from misdemeanor to felony charge.

• GM makes available a finance plan to encourage GM franchisees to participate more aggressively in pursuing fleet business.

1969

• First AFLA meeting takes place.

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1971

• McCullagh and CCIC (Commercial Credit Industrial Corp.) merge.

• Congress reinstates ITC (Investment Tax Credit).

• Kerr Leasing, Inc. established.

1972

• General Leasing Co. changes name to GELCO Corp.

• GM sets up a “Fleet Distant Delivery Assistance” program to compete with the Ford Authorized Leasing System (FALS) program.

1973

• OPEC launches an oil embargo against the U.S. and other countries. The fuel shortage resulted in gas rationing, a collapse in V-8 resale values, the start of fleet downsizing, and the shift to FWD cars.

1974

• House and Senate pass bill killing seat belt ignition interlock.

1976

• AF debuts annual fleet dealer awards at the AFLA meeting.

• California Vehicle Leasing Association (CVLA), forerunner to the National Vehicle Leasing Association (NVLA), formed in California.

1977

• GELCO purchases Econo-car.

• Bobit Publishing moves to Redondo Beach, Calif. from Glenview, Ill.

1978

• Associates Leasing founded.

• IRS considers defining open-end leases as conditional sales.

• Dart Industries forms Dart Leasing.

1979

• Prime hits 14 percent.

• Second fuel crisis occurs during President Carter’s term.

• NAFA reaches milestone with 2,000th member.

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1980

• U.S. Customs hits import mini-pickups with 25-percent tariff.

• AF publishes first-ever list of Top 100 Business/Corporate fleets.

1981

• PH&H delivers 1 millionth car, a Ford Escort, to Digital Equipment Corp.

• PH&H recommends use of four-cylinder cars for 1982-MY.

1982

• Dart Leasing becomes Dart & Kraft Financial Corp., acquires Gables C&M Leasing.

1983

• GM begins sale of “program” cars to daily rental companies.

1984

• NAFRD established.

• GE Capital Credit Corp. purchases Kerr Leasing.

• GE Capital Credit Corp. purchases Kerr Leasing.

1985

• Fleet pioneer Sam Lee passes away.

• AF announces Jack Lamb of Exxon as first recipient of the Fleet Manager of the Year award.

1986

• Congress repeals ITC in 1986 Tax Reform Act.

• Truth in Mileage Act is signed into law.

1987

• GELCO Fleet Management Services purchased by GE Credit Corp., GE Capital Fleet Services formed.

• Bank of New England acquires McCullagh Leasing.

• D&K acquired by GE Capital Credit Corp. (GECC).

1988

• ServNet formed.

1989

• First CAFM tests given.

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1990

• IRS raises per mile driving rate to 25.5 cents.

• GM sells 1 millionth auction car.

• GE Capital Fleet Services acquires McCullagh Leasing.

• Ford announces driver- and passenger-side supplement air bags will be standard on Ford and Lincoln-Mercury cars starting in the mid-’90s.

• IRS issues Notice 89-110 in relation to personal use costs.

• Clean Air Act Amendments become law.

1991

• Manheim and GE Capital Auto Auctions merge to become a Manheim 46-auction chain.

• ADESA formed with a group of four auctions.

• Chrysler purchases General Rent-A-Car.

• IVECO pulls out of U.S. market.

1992

• Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 enacted.

• IRS increases per-mile rate to 28 cents.

1993

• Anglo American auto auction changes name to ADT Automotive Inc.

1994

• GSA hires ADT to remarket fleet vehicles.

1995

• OnStar founded.

1996

• President Bill Clinton vetoes proposed Luxury Car Tax repeal.

• First-ever Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) held in Atlanta.

1997

• Chevrolet/GMC announce the intent to build bi-fuel pickups.

• Manheim Online sales pass $50 million.

• General Motors relocates headquarters to Renaissance Center in Detroit.

1998

• IRS rules drivers can use standard or FAVR rate.

1999

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created.

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2000

• Manheim Online hits half-billion dollars in sales.

• Side air bag design officially proposed.

• GM suspends production of the EV1 all-electric vehicle.

• PH&H changes name to PHH Arval.

• Automotive Fleet debuts its first e-mail eNewsletter.

• LeasePlan acquires CSC.

2001

• Penske Truck Leasing Co. buys Rollins.

• First-ever Fleet Executive of the Year award announced by Fleet Financials.

• 9/11 prompts meltdown in residual values; multiple fleet events cancelled.

2002

• First-ever investigation of crash caused by cell phone occurs in Washington, D.C.

• MVRs offered online.

2003

• IRS repeals Luxury Car Tax.

2004

• GM discontinues Oldsmobile brand.

• Penske Truck Leasing acquires AMI Leasing truck portfolio.

• NJ bans hands-held cell phone use.

• PHH Arval acquires First Fleet Corp.

• PHH Arval acquires First Fleet Corp.

• Emkay acquires AMI Leasing business units.

• Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems proposed.

2005

• AALA celebrates 50th anniversary.

• Hurricane Katrina wreaks havoc and destroys approximately 20,000 fleet vehicles.

• Energy Policy Act of 2005 increases “green” vehicle tax credits.

2006

• Ford announces the end of Taurus production.

• ULSD fuel rolled out at pumps nationwide.

2007

• NAFA celebrates 50th anniversary.

• NAFA changes name to NAFA Fleet Management Association.

2009

• GM & Chrysler enter voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

• Fiat acquires 35-percent stake in Chrysler.

• Dodge splits into two brands, drops “Dodge” from Ram name.

• GM discontinues Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer brands.

2010

• Ford discontinues Mercury brand.

• Chevrolet launches Volt.