Valley auto sales keep surging

Staff report

youngstown

The Mahoning Valley joined other markets across the U.S. in July as vehicle sales here continued to surge.

Nationwide, auto sales continue to be an economic bright spot, driven by pent-up demand and lifted by consumers who feel the economy is strengthening. In recent months, national sales have hit levels not seen since 2007.

Data released by the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio on Thursday show trends are no different in the Valley as sales numbers continued to improve in July.

Not surprisingly, Chevrolet was the Valley’s top-selling brand last month when sales increased 54 percent from a year earlier. In all, 804 Chev- rolet models were sold — up from 519 in July 2012. Ford sold 65 more models this year than it did last year, and GMC sold 79 more vehicles.

The Chevrolet Cruze had a solid month too, with 183 sold, or 70 more Cruzes this year than last. The Chevrolet Silverado more than tripled its year-over-year sales in the Valley last month, going from 53 sold in July 2012 to 177 last month.

Incentives such as rebates and low-interest loans helped GM and other automakers last month. The company averaged about $3,747, or 22 percent more, in incentives than it did last year, according to the automotive information website TrueCar.com. Incentive spending for the Cruze has increased by about $1,000 this year.

Across the industry, incentives rose nearly 8 percent over a year ago to $2,684 per vehicle. That’s the highest level of the year, according to TrueCar.

Greenwood Chevrolet sold 308 units last month, and Sweeney Chevrolet sold 233. The Stadium GM Superstore sold 224 vehicles, for the biggest gain at a single dealership — selling 106 more vehicles last month.