Auto companies are bailing out on rental-car sales
They can boost an automaker's sales numbers, but at the expense of profits, given that fleet sales are going to large organizations and rental-car agencies, and those folks don't pay full retail prices for the thousands of vehicles they buy.
This year, General Motors has been making a concerted effort to reduce fleet sales, and as Bloomberg's Jamie Butters reported, the approach has been good for GM's bottom line - so much so that another Detroit carmaker is emulating the plan:
As Butters wrote, another factor is influencing FCA's decision: the automaker is shifting away from passenger-cat production to focus on trucks and SUVs.
That means it won't have as many sedans to sell to rental-car fleets, but will instead be concentrating on remaining competitive with pickups and crossovers, two of the industry's most profitable segments.
It's worth noting that this strategy is fine while it lasts, but eventually fleet customers will want to buy additional cars. Ford, for example, took care of their fleet customers early in the year and has now shifted to the retail side of its business.
Fleet sales, though lower margin, still represent millions in potential annual sales, and those buyers are reliable.
But this trend is also a good example of how US automakers are rethinking their traditional approach to sales. Profitability is ruling the day, rather than market share. And with sales on a pace in 2016 to match 2015's record of 17.5 million, carmakers could be backing away from fleet sales for a while.