Related: Commercial Fleet Sales Flat in July
August Commercial Fleet Sales Surge 12.6%
Sales of vehicles to commercial fleets from eight manufactures increased 12.6% to 52,439 in August units with strong sales in the truck category, according to Automotive Fleet data.

Photo of 2017-MY half-ton pickups courtesy of Ford, GM, FCA, and Nissan.

Photo of 2017-MY half-ton pickups courtesy of Ford, GM, FCA, and Nissan.
Sales of vehicles to commercial fleets from eight manufactures increased 12.6% to 52,439 in August units with strong sales in the truck category, according to Automotive Fleet data.
During the month, sales of pickups, vans, and SUVs increased 13.3% to 47,794 compared to August of 2016. Sales of passenger cars increased 6.5% to 4,645.
For the year to date, sales to commercial fleets have slipped 0.5% to 467,969. Truck-based sales have increased 2.6% to 408,294, while car sales have fallen 17.7% to 59,675.
Sales to government fleets from five manufacturers fell 2.8% to 20,966 for the month with truck sales off 7.5% to 16,664 and car sales increasing 21.1% to 4,302. For the year, government sales have fallen 9.7% to 181,687 with car sales off 9.6% to 33,675 units and truck-based sales down 9.7% to 148,012.
Daily rental sales from nine manufacturers fell 11.2% to 100,836 units with a 5.6% increase to 48,587 units in car sales and a 22.7% decline to 52,249 units in truck-based sales. Year-to-date sales have fallen 16.3% to 1.09 million vehicles with a 22.3% decline to 516,376 in car sales and a 10.1% decline to 577,467 units in truck-based sales.
For all three segments, fleet sales in August fell 4.1% to 174,241 units with a 6.7% increase to 57,534 in car sales and an 8.7% decline to 116,707 units in truck-based sales. Year to date, the three fleet segments have fallen 11.9% to 1.74 million with a 21.3% decline in car sales to 609,726 and a 5.8% decline to 1.13 million in truck sales.
More Operations

Here's When You Should Make an Exception to Fleet Policy
Fleet policies are designed to create consistency, but not every driver or situation fits neatly within standard rules.
Read More →
AI-Native or AI-Acquired: What Should Fleet Managers Look for in an AI Platform?
Six questions can help fleet managers look beyond AI marketing claims to evaluate integration, data access, and real-world operational performance.
Read More →
A buyer's guide to fleet management software in 2027
Buying fleet management software in 2027 means looking beyond features and price. As fleet operations, technology and expectations evolve, this guide explores what today’s fleet professionals should consider when choosing a system that can deliver value now and adapt to what comes next.
Read More →
What Will Shape the Next Era of Fleet Management?
EVs, AI, and autonomous vehicles are reshaping fleet management. Discover what’s ahead—and how fleet leaders can prepare for the next era.
Read More →
How Fleets Can Recruit and Train Veterans for Technician Roles
Here's how the technician shortage has affected uptime for fleets, and what to do about it.
Read More →
Avis Budget Group Deploys Neology Toll Management Technology Across Major Brands
Neology’s neoFleet platform will manage toll transactions and toll-authority operations for vehicles across Avis, Budget, Payless, Budget Truck and Zipcar.
Read More →
Fleet Personal-Use Charges Edge Higher in 2026
Nearly eight in 10 surveyed fleets allow personal use of company vehicles, while just over half of respondents report charging employees for the privilege.
Read More →
The Future of Fleet + What’s Changing Right Now | AF News Recap
Could developments overseas offer a preview of what’s coming for U.S. fleets? This week, we’re looking at the future of AI, autonomy, and electrification, plus Ford Pro’s new certified pre-owned program, smarter vehicle offboarding, and a new way for fleets to manage toll expenses.
Read More →
How to Handle Vehicle Offboarding
What do fleet managers need to do when a driver leaves?
Read More →
Fleet Manager’s Ultimate Playbook: Navigating the New Standard in OEM Connectivity
Rising operating costs, driver safety concerns, and unplanned downtime are putting unprecedented pressure on modern fleets. Discover how fleet managers use embedded OEM connectivity and real-time vehicle data to cut TCO, prevent downtime, and protect drivers without aftermarket telematics hardware.
Read More →
