Rental fleets had a big month and major gains against last year, but overall volume is still down compared to 2024.
Graphic: Bobit Business Media
Another monthly surge in rental fleet vehicle sales during August sustained the upward path of fleet sales this year, according to Bobit Business Media fleet numbers released on Sept. 3.
Rental car companies bought 86% more vehicles than in the same month last year. That followed a July YOY increase of 56%.
Commercial fleet sales showed modest gains at 3.4% last month. Together, the two sectors more than offset a nearly 21% falloff in government fleet sales.
Combined, the three sectors in August totaled 168,898 fleet vehicles sold, up 24.9% from 135,257 in August 2024.
Rental fleets had a big month and major gains against last year, said Jeremy Robb, lead economist for Manheim. However, 2024 overall was a low-volume year for rental car sales.
“Although rental units showed large YOY gains in August, volume was down 7% from July 2025,” Robb said. “We saw a little bit of market cooling in July, and that likely helped new fleet sales grow relative to retail. This month wasn’t bad, but the retail market for new sales has been strong in August, so it’s plausible there weren’t as many deals/sales from OEMs to be had.”
Broken down by fleet sector:
- Commercial fleet sales numbered 69,434 vehicles in August compared to 67,119 in August 2024, up 3.4%.
- Rental fleet sales showed 79,136 vehicles sold, up 86.3% from 42,468 rental cars sold in August 2024.
- Government fleet sales plunged 20.8%, from 25,670 vehicles in August 2024 to 20,328 last month. [Government fleet totals included only numbers from Ford, GM, and Stellantis. The six major Asian-based automakers did not report any monthly government fleet sales].
Robb attributed the government fleet sales decline to job losses in the public sector under the current Presidential Administration. “It was already the smallest fleet sector but taking it on the chin again this year and down 17% YTD in volume versus last year.”
Total fleet sales YTD as of Aug. 31 stood at 1,541,667 vehicles sold, up 2.3% from the 1,507,444 vehicles sold in the first eight months of 2024.
Commercial fleet volume is down 6% YTD compared to last year, while rental fleet sales are up 14% and government fleets are down 17%.
Related findings from Robb’s analysis:
- Commercial fleet volume is down 6% YTD compared to last year, while rental fleet sales are up 14% and government fleets are down 17%.
- YTD mix is increasing for rental, up to 55%, while the government fleet share declined to just 10% and commercial fleets are lower by three percentage points to 35% when compared to 2024
- Auto brands that gained fleet market share in August: GM, Hyundai, Ford, and Mazda.
- Stellantis lost about a five-point share, while Toyota was down a point, and Kia was down almost half a point.
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 statistics include cars, SUVs, and trucks.
