September vehicle sales drop

STAFF REPORT

Area dealers saw a significant drop in new-car sales in September after the federal Cash for Clunkers program expired.

Dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties sold 1,513 new vehicles last month, which was down 33 percent from the 2,246 that were sold in August.

The government was offering up to $4,500 in July and August for car buyers who turned in certain vehicles that were not fuel-efficient. Car sales nationally slumped in September when the program ended.

The Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio said Friday that September’s sales numbers for local dealers also were down when compared with September 2008, when 2,107 vehicles were sold.

Dealers sold 3,411 used vehicles last month, compared with 3,231 in August and 3,956 in September 2008.

The top-selling new vehicles last month were the Chevrolet Cobalt, 64; Chevrolet Malibu, 59; and the Ford F-150, 55.

The top-selling dealers for new vehicles last month were The Honda Store in Boardman, 102; Sweeney Chevrolet in Boardman, 84; and Greenwood Chevrolet Hummer, 81.