Car Cost Files EP02 — sources and credits

The Cars Fleets Keep Buying — ranked with iSeeCars' 2026 longest-lasting-cars data, New York City's taxi registry, Vincentric fleet-value awards, and the rental companies' own SEC filings.

Sources

iSeeCars Longest-Lasting Cars 2026: https://www.iseecars.com/longest-lasting-cars-study
iSeeCars longest-lasting brands 2026: https://www.iseecars.com/longest-lasting-car-brands-study
NYC TLC medallion vehicles (open data): https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/rhe8-mgbb.json
NYC TLC 2020 Factbook: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/2020-tlc-factbook.pdf
NYC TLC license pause report, Feb 2026: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/tlc/downloads/pdf/license-pause-report-2026-02.pdf
Vincentric 2025 Best Fleet Value in America: https://vincentric.com/Home/Best-Value-Awards/2025-Best-Value-in-America/2025-Best-Fleet-Value-in-America-Winners-List
Hertz 2025 Annual Report (fleet composition chart, p.10): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657853/000110465926044381/tm261973d2_ars.pdf
Hertz 10-K FY2025: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657853/000165785326000008/htz-20251231.htm
Hertz Q4 2025 earnings release: https://s204.q4cdn.com/384814028/files/doc_financials/2025/q4/Q4-2025-Earnings-Release-2-25-2026-10pm.pdf
Hertz 8-K, Jan 11 2024 (EV sale): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657853/000165785324000010/htz-20240111.htm
Hertz Q1 2024 release (30,000 EVs): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657853/000165785324000060/q12024earningsrelease.htm
Hertz 10-K FY2024 (EV disposal, $223M): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1657853/000165785325000015/htz-20241231.htm
Avis Budget 10-K FY2025: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/723612/000072361226000012/car-20251231.htm
Avis Q4 2025 results ($518M EV impairment): https://www.avisbudgetgroup.com/home/news-and-media/press-release/avis-budget-group-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results
Ford Q3 2025 U.S. sales (police share): https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2025/ford-third-quarter-us-sales-results
Consumer Reports 2026 Brand Report Card: https://www.consumerreports.org/media-room/press-releases/2025/12/consumer-reports-releases-its-2026-automotive-brand-report-card-the-comprehensive-analysis-of-vehicle-quality-to-help-guide-car-shoppers-amid-steep-prices
J.D. Power 2026 VDS (via Motor1): https://www.motor1.com/news/787773/jd-power-vehicle-dependability-study/
CarEdge 10-year maintenance by brand (via The Drive, Jan 2023): https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyota-tops-list-for-cheapest-cars-to-maintain-over-a-decade
Nissan CVT warranty extensions (NHTSA-filed notices): https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10167413-0001.pdf · https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10211969-0001.pdf · https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10246457-0001.pdf
Hyundai/Kia Theta II engine settlement: https://www.hbsslaw.com/press/hyundai-kia-fire-hazard/hyundai-motor-america-and-kia-motors-america-resolve-engine-litigation
Ford Explorer axle bolt recall: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V166-9795.PDF
Escape Hybrid 400,000-mile taxi (Detroit News): https://henrypayne.com/index.php/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/24169
Chevrolet Malibu production end (Automotive Fleet): https://www.automotive-fleet.com/news/gm-ending-chevy-malibu-production-this-year

Notes on the data

Taxi model counts are estimates from decoding VINs in the TLC registry on Nov 1 2026. Hertz brand shares are read from the chart on page 10 of its 2025 annual report.

Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons)

HONDA CIVIC SEDAN (FE,FL) China.jpg — Dinkun Chen — CC BY-SA 4.0
0 Honda CR-V (5th generation) 1.jpg — Benespit — CC BY-SA 4.0
2023 GAC-Honda Accord e꞉PHEV.jpg — User3204 — CC BY-SA 4.0
2021 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid front.jpg — LuvsMG481 — CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-2023 Toyota Prius.jpg — TTTNIS — CC0
2003-2008 Toyota Prius (NHW20R) liftback, 13CABS (2017-12-09).jpg — EurovisionNim — CC BY-SA 4.0
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid (facelift), NYC taxi, front 1.23.22.jpg — Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0
'08 Ford Escape Hybrid Hydro-Québec & '10-'12 Nissan Altima Sedan -- Rear.jpg — Bull-Doser at English Wikipedia — Public domain
1995 Dodge Ram 3500 LT 4x4 chassis cab dually dump truck, front right, 08-05-2023.jpg — MercurySable99 — CC BY-SA 4.0
2005 Ford F-350.jpg — Calreyn88 — CC BY-SA 4.0
GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab.jpg — Bull-Doser — Public domain
FBI Police Ford Police Interceptor Utility J134061.jpg — Raymond Wambsgans — CC BY 2.0
2017-06-03 10 53 58 Prince George's County Police car in a parking lot adjacent to Maryland State Route 414 (Oxon Hill Road) near Maryland State Route 975 (John Hanson Lane) in Oxon Hill, Prince George's County, Maryland.jpg — Famartin — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lexus LS 500 VXFA50 F Sport White Nova 01.jpg — Ethan Llamas — CC BY-SA 4.0
2026 Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury (3).jpg — Szeremeta — CC BY 4.0
2022 MY Toyota RAV4 Hybrid facelift XA50.jpg — Volardiculous — CC BY-SA 4.0
(USA-New York) NYC Boro Cab Toyota RAV4 NY-Taxi-T118613C 2024-06-14.jpg — S5A-0043 — CC BY 4.0
0 Toyota Camry 70 0.jpg — Benespit — CC BY-SA 4.0
Yell Ow (62039771).jpeg — Hans Vivek — CC0
(USA-New York) NYC Medallion Cab Toyota Sienna NY-Taxi-3W82H 2024-06-19.jpg — S5A-0043 — CC BY 4.0
TOYOTA SIENNA (XL40) China.jpg — Dinkun Chen — CC BY-SA 4.0
2023 Toyota Sequoia (cropped).jpg — Blueck — CC BY-SA 4.0
Toyota 4Runner (49621416248).jpg — crash71100 — CC0
2022 Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5, front 4.5.23.jpg — Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0
Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab CAC.jpg — Bull-Doser — Public domain
New York Yellow cab Ford Crown Victoria 1020716.jpg — Ermell — CC BY-SA 4.0
RCF Detail (6325339902).jpg — Atomic Taco from Seattle, WA, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0
An Avis Budget Group car and truck rental location in Knoxville, Tennessee 01.jpg — Harrison Keely — CC BY 4.0
2019 Nissan Altima, front 7.11.20.jpg — Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0
2019 Chevrolet Malibu (facelift) LT, front 10.19.19.jpg — Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0
0 Kia Forte (TD) 3.jpg — Benespit — CC BY-SA 4.0
2022 Tesla Model Y medallion cab 4H94, front NYIAS 2022.jpg — Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0
Hertz Car Rental Shuttle (4829513883).jpg — Atomic Taco from Seattle, WA, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0
Toyota Dealership in Tokai, Cape Town.jpg — Husskeyy — CC BY-SA 4.0
Hertz Rent-A-Car - New York LaGuardia Airport (8271976125).jpg — Patrick Nouhailler from Suisse — CC BY-SA 2.0
Terminal 2 Rental Car Return Las Vegas (5500984046).jpg — Michael Dorausch from Venice, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0

Other credits

Stock footage: Pixabay (Pixabay Content License) and Mixkit (Mixkit License). Music generated with Suno. Narration: Google Gemini TTS.