September commercial fleet sales were essentially unchanged from a year earlier, slowing year-to-date growth while keeping volume ahead of 2025.
Commercial fleet sales increased 5.8% through September 2026 on a same-automaker basis, according to fleet sales data collected by Bobit Business Media.
Comparable commercial fleet sales totaled 637,127 during the first nine months of 2026, up from 601,926 during the same period in 2025.
The comparison excludes Volkswagen and Honda from both years to maintain consistency with Automotive Fleet’s previous updates. Including those automakers, reported commercial fleet sales totaled 641,738 through September.
The commercial category encompasses vehicles purchased for business use, including passenger cars, crossovers, SUVs, vans, and trucks through Class 7.
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September Sales Hold Steady
Comparable commercial fleet sales totaled 62,035 vehicles in September, nearly identical to the 62,059 sold in September 2025.
The flat result followed a 2.3% year-over-year increase in August and a 9.6% increase in July. Year-to-date growth consequently moderated from 7.1% through July to 6.5% through August and 5.8% through September.
Commercial fleets purchased fewer vehicles in September than in July or August, when comparable sales totaled 75,795 and 71,048, respectively. However, the September year-over-year comparison shows volume holding steady against the same month in 2025.
Monthly fleet sales can vary with production schedules, vehicle availability, replacement cycles, and the timing of large orders. These results should not be interpreted as a direct measure of underlying fleet demand.
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Commercial Gains Lead Year-to-Date Growth
Commercial fleet sales remained the largest source of year-to-date growth among the commercial, rental, and government fleet segments, adding 35,201 vehicles compared with the first nine months of 2025.
Comparable rental fleet sales increased 22.5% in September, narrowing their year-to-date decline to 1.8%. Through September, rental volume totaled 903,069 vehicles, down from 919,945 a year earlier.
Government fleet sales increased 2.2% year to date to 184,860 vehicles, despite a 4.5% decline in September.
Together, the three segments totaled 1,725,056 vehicles through September on a comparable basis, up 1.3% from 1,702,838 during the same period in 2025.
Previous Updates:
August Growth Slows After Stronger July
Commercial fleet sales increased 2.3% in August on a comparable basis, with 71,048 vehicles sold compared with 69,434 in August 2025.
That represented a slower year-over-year increase than July, when comparable commercial fleet sales rose 9.6%.
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Commercial fleet sales have shown uneven growth in 2026. Sales increased 9.1% during the first quarter before growth moderated to 4.7% in the second quarter. July volume then increased 9.6% year over year before the smaller gain in August.
The year-to-date increase consequently moderated from 7.1% through July to 6.5% through August.
Monthly fleet sales can fluctuate based on factors including automaker production and delivery schedules, business replacement cycles, vehicle availability, and the timing of large fleet orders. As a result, monthly sales results should not necessarily be viewed as a direct measure of underlying fleet demand.
Commercial Sales Continue to Offset Rental Decline
Commercial fleet sales continue to drive the largest growth among the commercial, rental, and government fleet segments in 2026.
Through August, comparable commercial sales increased by 35,225 vehicles from the same period in 2025. That gain almost exactly offset a 34,312-unit decline in comparable rental fleet sales.
Government fleet sales also remained above 2025 levels through August.
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Previous Updates:
Commercial Fleet Sales Rise 7.1% Through July 2026
According to fleet sales data collected by Bobit Business Media, commercial fleet sales increased 7.1% on a same-automaker basis and were the primary source of growth across the commercial, government, and rental fleet segments.
Reported commercial fleet sales totaled 508,155 through July 2026, up 8% from the same period in 2025, according to sales data collected by Bobit Business Media. The reported 2026 total includes 4,111 sales from two automakers without corresponding 2025 volume in the reports.
Excluding those sales provides a same-automaker comparison of 504,044 commercial fleet sales in 2026, up 7.1% from 470,433 in 2025.
Commercial fleet sales totaled 75,795 in July 2026 on a comparable reporting basis, up 9.6% from 69,165 in July 2025.
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Commercial Sales Drive Overall Fleet Growth
Commercial fleet sales were the primary source of growth across the commercial, government and rental segments during the first seven months of 2026.
The commercial category covers vehicles purchased for business use, ranging from passenger cars and SUVs to trucks through Class 7.
On a comparable basis, commercial volume increased by 33,611 vehicles. That gain more than offset a 32,025-unit decline in rental fleet sales. Government fleet sales also increased, adding 5,959 vehicles.
Combined sales across the three segments totaled 1,380,314 through July on a same-automaker basis, up 7,545 vehicles, or 0.5%, from 1,372,769 during the same period last year.
Commercial fleet growth moderated as the year progressed before strengthening again in July. Comparable sales increased 9.1% during the first quarter and 4.7% in the second quarter. July volume was 9.6% above July 2025.
These results do not represent continuous month-to-month growth. Commercial fleet deliveries can fluctuate based on automaker production schedules, business replacement cycles, vehicle availability and the timing of large orders.
Commercial fleet’s year-over-year progression was:
- First quarter: up 9.1%
- Second quarter: up 4.7%
- July: up 9.6%
- January through July: up 7.1%
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