The subsidized leasing and zero - interest financing, combined with a hefty
shot of fleet sales, juiced the market, driving new - car sales up 24 % over the dismal March 2009 total.
The company claims, however, that retail sales, actually were up 22 %, reflecting a declining
importance of fleet sales at GM, as elsewhere.
With the 2008 withdrawal of the Ford Crown Victoria from retail markets, the Taurus became the largest Ford sedan (
outside of fleet sales).
The Chevrolet Sonic does not level a segment - shattering boom, but it demolishes low expectations set by the much - maligned Chevy Aveo that went on sale in the United States eight years ago — mostly to the
benefit of fleet sales rather than anyone looking for a fun, high - quality subcompact car.
JLR has increased its
proportion of fleet sales from 37 percent in 2013 to 44 percent last year and is expecting a further shift, over the next couple of years of several percentage points, towards the industry average of 46 percent.
GENERAL MOTORS +23 % (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC only) All four GM divisions did better than most players this month, and the company claimed to have reduced its
percentage of fleet sales.