As automakers in the U.S. struggle to keep selling new cars to American consumers at a record clip, Toyota Motor Corp. plans to turn to rental car companies and other fleet operators for a boost.
Toyota will nearly match last year's total sales to fleet customers, which means the company has some catching up to do. Deliveries to rental car companies and other fleets were down by about 20 percent during the first six months of the year, according to Jim Lentz, chief executive officer of Toyota's North American operations.
"A lot of our fleet sales are backloaded into the second half," Lentz said in a phone interview before the grand opening Thursday of Toyota's new North American headquarters in Plano, Texas. "We're confident we're in good shape for the rest of the year."