Chicago — As vehicle makers in the US struggle to keep selling new cars to American consumers at a record clip, Toyota plans to turn to rental car companies and other fleet operators for a boost. Toyota will nearly match 2016’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% during the first six months of 2017, according to Jim Lentz, CEO 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 on 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." Vehicle makers sold fewer cars and trucks during each of this year’s first six months, putting the industry on course for its first annual drop since 2009. Toyota has been hit harder than many of its peers by a rapid shift in demand towards sport u...
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