THE CAR AND TRUCK FLEET AND LEASING MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE
Commercial fleet sales continued their torrid spring, increasing 12.3% in May after increasing 11.2% in April. Year-to-date sales are now 7.8% ahead of the first five months of 2018, according to Automotive Fleet data.
Toyota Motor North America has named Don Fordiani group manager for fleet sales to replace Dave Depew, who retired earlier this year.
Sales to corporate fleets increased 11.2%, while sales to government agencies and rental fleets fell 0.3% and 6.5% respectively.
March sales to commercial fleets increased 11.1%, while sales to government agencies increased 7.3%. Sales into daily rental increased 5.3%.
Mark Buzzell is no stranger to fleet. As the prior president and CEO of Ford of Canada, one of his key responsibilities was managing its Canadian fleet business. Buzzell understands fleet and recognizes its importance to Ford.
Sales of vehicles to commercial fleets declined 1.7% in February, while sales to government agencies increased 2.4%. Sales to daily rental increased 5.3%.
In January, sales to commercial fleets fell 1.9%, while sales to daily rental increased 16.1%. Sales to government agencies increased 5.7%.
U.S. new-car dealers sold 17.33 million cars and light trucks in 2018, exceeding expectations due to a 2.2% year-over-year improvement in December.
Sales of vehicles to commercial fleets from eight manufactures increased 8.8% to 743,210 in 2018, even with a weaker December, on the strength of sales of trucks, SUVs, and vans that accounted for nearly nine units out of every 10 sold.
Ford's president and chief executive of its Canadian market, Mark Buzzell, will return to the U.S. as the director of North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing Operations starting Jan. 1, Ford has announced.