Fleet Sales Dip in January
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Low fleet activity contributed to the U.S. auto industry’s light-vehicle sales decline in January.
Among the major players, fleet sales were down 6.7 percent to 200,300 units. The group’s retail volume declined 2.6 percent.
The bulk of fleet losses came from two automakers returning to normal from unusually high fleet sales last January.
Ford Motor sold 52,200 fleet units, down thirteen percent from a year ago when a lot of its bulk sales came early in the year. The sharp fleet decline turned a 5.7 percent retail gain into a net sales loss for the automaker to start the year.
Toyota Motor Sales’ bulk volume fell forty percent to 14,300 units as it reverted to a ten percent fleet sales mix from fifteen percent last January. In 2016, nine percent of its total sales were fleet.
Fiat Chrysler also reduced fleet sales in January as stocks dwindle on its discontinued Dodge Dart, Chrysler 200, and Jeep Patriot models. FCA has said it will cut sales to daily rental fleets this year to boost resale values and brand image, flowing the example of General Motors over the past two years.
Among the major players, fleet sales were down 6.7 percent to 200,300 units. The group’s retail volume declined 2.6 percent.
The bulk of fleet losses came from two automakers returning to normal from unusually high fleet sales last January.
Ford Motor sold 52,200 fleet units, down thirteen percent from a year ago when a lot of its bulk sales came early in the year. The sharp fleet decline turned a 5.7 percent retail gain into a net sales loss for the automaker to start the year.
Toyota Motor Sales’ bulk volume fell forty percent to 14,300 units as it reverted to a ten percent fleet sales mix from fifteen percent last January. In 2016, nine percent of its total sales were fleet.
Fiat Chrysler also reduced fleet sales in January as stocks dwindle on its discontinued Dodge Dart, Chrysler 200, and Jeep Patriot models. FCA has said it will cut sales to daily rental fleets this year to boost resale values and brand image, flowing the example of General Motors over the past two years.
