Auto sales down in October

By Don Shilling

Area car dealers saw a 40-percent decline.

Area car dealers posted their second-worst sales month of the year in October as the effects of last summer’s Cash for Clunkers program continued.

Dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties sold 1,171 new vehicles last month, which was 40 percent below the 1,953 that were sold in October 2008.

Last month’s total was lower than every other month of the year except February when 1,006 new vehicles were sold, the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio said Wednesday.

The year’s best month was August when the government was offering rebates of up to $4,500 during its Cash for Clunkers program. Local dealers sold 2,246 vehicles that month.

Steve Chos, executive vice president of the dealers association, said so many sales were pulled forward by the government program that sales were hurt in both September and October.

Dealers sold 1,513 new vehicles in September, but Chos said that number was deceptive. Some of those sales actually occurred in late August as buyers rushed to beat the government’s deadline, but those sales were recorded in September because the title transfers were not completed until then, he said.

He added the troubled local economy continues to hold down sales.

“Dealers are doing all they can to control their operating expenses and maintain their viability,” he said.

Through the first 10 months of this year, area dealers sold 15,123 new vehicles, which was down 38 percent from the 24,508 that were sold during the same period last year.

The next few months, however, typically are the slowest time of the year for dealers, Chos said. “It’s going to be a struggle.”

Dealers, however, are an optimistic lot and are hopeful that sales will pick up next spring, he said.

Last month, Sweeney Buick Pontiac GMC and Sweeney Chevrolet, both in Boardman, led all dealers in sales of new vehicles. They each had 59.

Sales of used vehicles also were down last month.

Dealers sold 3,302 used vehicles in October, which was down 16 percent from the 3,627 that were sold in October 2008.

Through the first 10 months of this year, dealers sold 34,256 used vehicles, which was down 10 percent from the 38,094 sold during the same period of last year.

Greenwood Chevrolet Hummer in Austintown led all dealers in used vehicle sales last month with 91.

shilling@vindy.com

Top sellers | Best-selling vehicles at Mahoning Valley car lots in October:

NEW VEHICLES

Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 53

Ford F-150: 50

Chevrolet Malibu: 49

Chevrolet Cobalt: 39

Chevrolet Impala: 34

USED VEHICLES

Chevrolet Impala: 84

Chevrolet Cavalier: 76

Pontiac Grand Am: 73

Ford F-150: 66

Chevrolet Cobalt: 57

Source: Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio