Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Overall Fleet Sales Down 25% in January

Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 153,372, which represented a 25.5% drop from the same time last year. 

February 11, 2021
Overall Fleet Sales Down 25% in January

Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 153,372, which represented a 25.5% drop from the same time last year.

Photo: Pixabay

2 min to read


Commercial fleet sales through January 2021 were down 10.8% compared to same time last year, according to sales data from nine manufacturers, though the month had to compete with a strong January 2020 market that was pre-pandemic.

The decline in commercial fleet sales saw its most significant drop in for the car segment, down 38.6%, year-over-year, though sedans represent the smallest segment volume for commercial fleets. Meanwhile, the truck and SUV segment saw a 8.3% decline. Total commercial fleet sales in January were at 50,363 units.

Ad Loading...

Total fleet sales for the month — which is comprised of commercial, rental, and government sales — came in at 153,372, which represented a 25.5% drop from the same time last year. 

The rental and government fleet segments also both saw overall declines for the month of January 2021.

For rental fleets, there was a 32.6% overall decline in fleet sales during the month, according to sales data. Through January, rental fleet car sales fell by a drastic 15.6%, totaling 35,189 units. Truck and SUV segment sales decreased 40.7% at 52,625 units. 

Meanwhile, government fleets also saw declines for each segment. There was a 58.1% decline in cars sold to government fleets in January, and an 18% decline in the truck and SUV segment. Combined, truck, SUV, and car vehicle sales for government fleets amounted to 14,565 units, which reflected a 20.6% decline.

More Operations

Two employees pull opposite ends of a rope in a tug-of-war, illustrating workplace conflict and the leadership strategies fleet organizations use to improve communication and teamwork.
Operationsby Faith HowellJune 8, 2026

How to Manage Conflict for Your Fleet Operations

Conflict management is becoming a core leadership skill. Here are five strategies fleet leaders should know.

Read More →
wheel geotab image
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Read More →
A person holding a clipboard and writing on an inspection checklist beside the wheel of a large white vehicle, likely conducting a fleet or safety inspection.
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
fleetio coast pay
SponsoredMay 29, 2026

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a fleet management whitepaper titled “From Data Overload to Decisive Action: 5 Steps to Drive Smarter Fleet Decisions.” The design features a row of white commercial fleet vans, blue and lime-green branding, and supporting text about using telematics data to improve fleet performance, driver behavior, safety, and operational decision-making. A highlighted quote reads, “The challenge is no longer collecting data. The challenge is using it effectively.” The Utilimarc logo appears at the bottom alongside the website URL.
SponsoredMay 28, 2026

Turn Fleet Data Into Smarter Decisions

Fleet leaders have access to more operational data than ever, but disconnected systems and unclear metrics often slow decision-making instead of improving it. This article outlines five practical steps fleets can take to transform fragmented data into actionable insights that improve planning, safety, utilization, and long-term performance.

Read More →
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 →
Ad Loading...
Man speaking during an Automotive Fleet interview beside text reading “The 60% Driver Improvement Nobody Expected!” with blue motion graphics background.
Operationsby Chris BrownMay 14, 2026

How NOV Uses Telematics to Improve Fleet Safety Across 160 Locations

James Victory of NOV discusses how the company manages fleet safety, maintenance, and telematics across more than 150 locations supporting oilfield operations throughout the U.S.

Read More →
A graphic with Ford Pro's Steven Sanstostasi's headshot on it representing the Fleet Meets series.
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 14, 2026

Fleet Meets: Steven Santostasi

This edition of the Fleet Meets series features Steven Santostasi, the current TSP channel manager for Ford Pro.

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...
Three team members in shop with Chris
Operationsby Chris BrownMay 12, 2026

Soap Box Derby Challenge: Assembling the Crew

Meet Gabriel, Matthew, and Angel — the team helping bring this soap box derby build to life.

Read More →