Chicago — As vehicle makers in the US struggle to keep selling new cars to US consumers at a record clip, Toyota Motor 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 about 20% in the first six months of the year, according to Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota’s North American operations. "A lot of our fleet sales are backloaded into the second half," he said 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 2017’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 utility vehicles (SUVs) and away ...
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