Local car sales strong in March

Staff report

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Vehicle sales in the Mahoning Valley were strong in March, according to data released Friday by the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.

The numbers showed some mixed results, but last month generally was a good one, as the Valley’s dealerships continued to post stronger sales gains through the first three months of this year than they did at the same time in 2012.

Among the top new makes, Chevrolet was the clear choice for Valley buyers. The GM brand increased its year-over-year sales by 24 percent last month, when 915 Chevy models were sold. Ford was a distant second, selling 369 units in the region, while GMC sold 139 units.

For Chevrolet, its Malibu, Equinox, Cruze and Silverado models held the top four spots in that order. The Malibu sold 230, while a broader national trend in growing SUV purchases helped the Equinox gain the most in March, when its sales more than doubled from 90 units last year to 220 last month.

The Ford F-150 pickup truck once again battled with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. In March, 89 F-150s were sold, an increase of 46 units from the previous year.

Greenwood Chevrolet, Sweeney Chevrolet and Taylor Kia were the region’s top dealerships, combining to sell 847 vehicles in March.