Mahoning Valley dealers scrambling to get more Cobalts

The third shift at the Lordstown car plant can’t come soon enough for Chevrolet dealers.

“Cobalts are drying up across the nation,” said Mike Hudock, general manager of Stadium GM Superstore in Salem.

The Cobalt just posted its best May sales yet. So many buyers are after the fuel-efficient small car that the supply at dealers nationwide had slipped to 27 days as of June 1, compared with the industry norm of 60 days.

Sales have been so hot this month that the nationwide average has probably dipped below 20 days, Hudock said.

General Motors announced Monday that it was adding 1,400 workers to the Lordstown plant in order to boost production of the car. A midnight shift will be added Aug. 4.

Locally, dealers are reporting an extremely low supply, and two said they are scrambling to get more.

Hudock had less than five Cobalts on his lot Tuesday, while he normally has nearly 70. He was trying to find other dealers willing to sell him extra Cobalts but hasn’t had any luck.

“Everybody is trying to do the same thing,” he said.

For more on this story, please see Wednesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com.