Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Commercial Fleet Sales Drop in March

Commercial fleet sales from nine manufacturers totaled 65,135 in March 2020, representing an 17.7% year-over-year decrease.

Andy Lundin
Andy LundinFormer Senior Editor
April 1, 2020
Commercial Fleet Sales Drop in March

Commercial car sales were down 47.3% year-over-year during March at 4,962 units, while truck and SUV segment vehicle sales were down 13.7% at 60,173, according to Automotive Fleet data.

Photos: Ford, GM, FCA, and Nissan. 

2 min to read


Commercial fleet sales from nine manufacturers totaled 65,135 in March 2020, representing an 17.7% year-over-year decrease.

Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 229,725, which represented a notable 27.6% drop from the same time last year.

Ad Loading...

Commercial car sales were down 47.3% year-over-year during March at 4,962 units, while truck and SUV segment vehicle sales were down 13.7% at 60,173, according to Automotive Fleet data.

The rental fleet segment saw a similar trend of declines across the board. Significant declines were seen for many automakers who reported for the month of March.

Through March 2020, rental fleet car sales fell 39.9%, totaling 46,998 units. Truck and SUV segment sales decreased 31.1% at 94,093 units. Combined, rental fleet sales totaled 141,091, which represented a 34.3% year-over-year decline.

The government fleet sector, however, didn’t reflect similar declines. While 3,099 cars were sold to government fleets, a 15% decrease, truck and SUV sales were at 20,400 units, reflecting a 3% increased. Combined, truck, SUV, and car vehicle sales amounted to 23,499 units, which reflect a minor 0.2% increase from last year.

Year-to-date, as of the end of March 2020, overall fleet sales from nine manufacturers total 714,212, 11.4% less on a year-over-year basis. Double digit losses in car segment sales are a large part of that decline, as did a slide in truck and SUV sales. So far car sales are down 26.2% year-to-date and truck and SUV segment sales were down 5.3% year-to-date.

More Vehicle Research

SponsoredMay 15, 2026

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.

Read More →
A graphic including Emkay's building celebrating 80 years in fleet.
Vehicle Researchby StaffMay 13, 2026

Inside Emkay's 80th Anniversary Celebration [Watch]

EMKAY recently celebrated a major milestone: 80 years in the fleet industry.

Read More →
Cover of a whitepaper titled “The Hidden Costs of Departmentally Assigned Vehicles on Your Fleet” featuring a black fleet vehicle driving on a road at sunset. Subheadline reads: “Discover how your fleet can reduce costs and minimize risk by implementing vehicle sharing.” The document focuses on fleet optimization, vehicle sharing, cost reduction, utilization tracking, and risk management for fleet operations.
SponsoredMay 13, 2026

Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools

Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Front view of a silver Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV driving on a curving road with mountains and sunlight in the background.

Mercedes-Benz Introduces All-New Electric C-Class

Mercedes-Benz introduces an all-electric C-Class with dual motors, up to 482 hp, fast charging, and a redesigned interior built on a dedicated EV platform.

Read More →
Green and black bar graphs show April 2025 v. 2026 fleet vehicle sales into commercial, rental, and government fleet sectors.
Vehicle Researchby Martin RomjueMay 5, 2026

Commercial Fleet Sales Show Healthy Gains

So far, the fleet sector is outshining government and rental fleet sales this year as economic growth spurs more business investment.

Read More →
Johan Verbois, executive director of CARA, stands outdoors in a blue blazer with arms crossed, with blurred vehicles and greenery in the background.
Remarketingby News/Media ReleaseApril 27, 2026

CARA Appoints Johan Verbois as Executive Director

CARA recently opened up a part-time executive director position and appointed Johan Verbois for the role.

Read More →
Subaru electric SUV driving along a coastal highway at sunset, representing the 2027 Getaway with three-row seating and all-electric performance.
Vehicle Researchby News/Media ReleaseApril 22, 2026

Subaru Unveils New Electric SUV, a Three-Row 2027 Subaru Getaway

Subaru introduces the all-electric 2027 Getaway, a three-row SUV with 420 hp, over 300 miles of range, and fast-charging capability, expanding its EV lineup.

Read More →
Vehicle Researchby StaffApril 21, 2026

GM Envolve Changes Name to GM Fleet

The GM Fleet name aligns to how customers identify us and it also helps with discoverability, the company said.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Electric vehicle charging in a home garage with wall-mounted charging and energy systems, illustrating WEX EV At-Home fraud protection and fleet charging verification technology.
Vehicle Researchby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

WEX Launches Solution to Close EV At-Home Charging Visibility Gap

At NAFA I&E 2026, WEX debuted an EV solution that adds a layer of verification to help fleets track, validate, and trust every at-home charging dollar.

Read More →