LORDSTOWN Cavalier, Sunfire sales see increase

LORDSTOWN -- Both models produced at Lordstown Assembly Plant had sales gains last month as General Motors Corp. reported its best December sales since 1979.
Chevrolet sold 18,358 Cavaliers last month, compared with 14,348 for December 2001. For the year, Cavalier sales were 238,225, compared with 233,298 in 2001.
Pontiac sold 3,438 Sunfires last month, compared with 3,158 in December 2001.
For the year, Sunfire sales were 62,950, compared with 71,342 in 2001.
GM will produce those models until 2004, when it intends to replace them with a new small car model. The assembly plant and fabrication plant in Lordstown are undergoing a $550 million renovation.
Overall, GM sold 473,663 new cars and trucks in December in the United States, a 36 percent increase from December 2001.
GM truck sales last month were up 36 percent, while December utility vehicle sales were an all-time monthly record.
Car sales for the month were up 37 percent overall.
"Our December results were outstanding, as was our overall performance for the calendar year," said John Smith, group vice president of North America vehicle sales, service and marketing.