April new-car sales in Valley surpass last year’s

Staff report

Youngstown

Local auto sales continue to trail last year’s pace, although sales for last month were higher than April 2011.

New- and used-car sales increased by 25 in April. This is the first month in 2012 in which vehicle sales surpassed the previous year. For the year, purchases remain down 340, according to a report from the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio Inc. The report includes dealerships in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

New-car sales were up 36 to 2,150 for April. For the full year, there were 7,849 bought, a drop of 1,001 from this point in 2011.

Buyers appeared to shift slightly away from used cars in April, with sales down by 56 compared with April 2011. For the year, however, used-car purchases are up considerably in 2012 with 15,030 bought, an increase of 576.

Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep led area new-car sales with 128. Rounding out the top five local dealers in new-car sales were Taylor Kia, 120; The Honda Store, 117; Fairway Ford, 110; and Sweeney Chevrolet, 99.

In total vehicle sales, Greenwood Chevrolet was the local leader with 212 sales in April. It was followed in the top five by Taylor Kia, 201; Fairway Ford, 184; Sweeney Chevrolet, 172; and Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep and The Honda Store tied for the fifth spot, each selling 170 vehicles.

The Chevrolet Malibu remains the most-popular new vehicle locally. Malibu sales were up 25 in April to 144 compared with April 2011. For the year, however, there have been 461 fewer Malibus sold.

Sales of the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze fit with the national trend of reduced sales in April. There were 53 fewer new Cruzes sold, a total of 112. Sales of the Cruze are down 324 for the year at 503.

The Chevrolet Equinox, Ford F-150 and Ford Escape were the other best-selling vehicles locally.