Apparently, retail consumers weren’t the only ones buying more cars in 2012.

Commercial-fleet sales were booming, as well, ending the year 41 percent above 2011 yearly levels. In 2012, the industry saw 5.7 million commercial-fleet units sold — or 39 percent of total deliveries, according to CNW’s latest Automotive Retail Summary.

Company president Art Spinella noted that these sales include “all vehicles that are used at least half of the time for business purposes including retail sales to contractors, retail shops, etc.”

And with the exception of government sales, all categories of fleet-commercial sales were up by double digits, Spinella shared.

And what were these units going for?

“The average value of those vehicles was $28,362 excluding upfitting bringing the total value of fleet-commercial to nearly $162 billion, a whopping gain from cy11’s (2011) $109 billion,” Spinella said.

But will the high tide last?

Spinella warned  that CNW is estimating that 2013’s commercial-fleet business will slow, with increases in the 10- to 14-percent range rather than the 39 to 56 percent of 2012.

“Primary reason: Businesses spent much of this past year bringing its recession-aged fleets up to desired levels and will return to an historical replacement cycle,” Spinella explained.

Sarah Rubenoff can be reached at srubenoff@autoremarketing.com. Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.