Rental fleet sales accounted for the monthly increase but weren’t enough to sustain a Q1 increase compared to last year.
All the gains in fleet sales in March were seen in the rental segment, showing the strongest level of sales for any month in the last three years.
Graphic: Bobit
Among commercial, rental, and government fleets, March 2025 sales totaled 229,950 vehicles, up 2.3% compared to 224,833 vehicles sold in March 2024, according to Bobit Business Media fleet numbers released on April 1.
It was the first year-over-year increase of the three fleet sectors since October 2024. Fleet sales also rose 14.8% from the 195,892 vehicles sold in February 2025.
However, fleet sales year-to-date show Q1 2025 with 583,614 fleet vehicles sold, compared to 607,225 during Q1 2024, for a 3.9% dip.
These are the last fleet sales numbers before the heavy Trump tariffs on the automotive sector kick in on April 2.
“All the gains in fleet sales in March were seen in the rental segment, showing the strongest level of sales for any month in the last three years,” said Jeremy Robb, senior director of economic and industry insights at Cox Automotive. “Rental fleet operators stepped up their buying plans to try and get ahead of price increases that should be coming at the beginning of April, stemming from the tariff impact.”
March feet sales by fleet sector were:
Commercial fleet sales numbered 71,664 vehicles in March compared to 78,756 in March 2024, decreasing 9%.
Rental fleet sales rose 13.1% year-over-year in March at 137,645 vehicles compared to 121,731 vehicles in March 2024.
Government fleet sales last month were 20,641 vehicles, falling 15.2% from 24,346 in March 2024. [Government fleet totals include numbers from Ford, GM, and Stellantis only. The six major Asian-based automakers did not report any monthly fleet sales].
“While rental fleet sales were strong, there was weakness in commercial and government segments, which has been the trend each month so far this year,” Robb said.
Fleet sales gains were not common to all automakers, with GM registering the biggest increase in YOY fleet sales in March.
Bobit Business Media (BBM), owner of Automotive Fleet, Vehicle Remarketing, Government Fleet, and Auto Rental News, compiles fleet sales numbers that reflect aggregate figures from the three major Detroit-based auto manufacturers and the Asian Big 6 automakers. The figures include cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
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