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Jan. vehicle sales get year off to strong start
YOUNGSTOWN
Local vehicle sales were strong in January, recovering from a lackluster close to 2012.
Sales ushered in renewed optimism for a year expected to see vehicle sales increase nationwide by 4 percent, according to most analysts’ projections.
Figures released from the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio show gains in almost all areas across the region.
Sales of new and used cars and trucks at the area’s top-three dealers in January rose collectively from the same time in 2012 by 132 units, with Greenwood Chevrolet’s sales of new and used vehicles at the top of the list, increasing by 10 percent, selling 280 units last month, versus 253 in 2012.
Greenwood also was tops in used sales, which increased by 6 percent, while its new-model sales increased by 12 percent, going from 127 units in January 2012 to 143 last month.
The Chevrolet Silverado was the area’s top-selling new model in January — when 163 were sold — up from 69 last year. The Chevrolet Equinox was close behind, with 133 units sold, or 70 more than January 2012.
The Chevrolet Cruze was the area’s third-best-selling new model, with 111 vehicles sold, but sales last month dropped year-over-year by 21 units. The Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Malibu rounded out the top-five best-selling new models, posting fourth and fifth respectively.
According to figures from the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association, sales across northern Ohio were up by 14.9 percent. Franchised new-car and light-truck dealers sold 18,455 vehicles in January 2013, versus 16,062 in January 2012.
A majority of automotive information websites, such as Edmunds.com, are forecasting a sales increase of 4 percent in 2013, as dealerships and others are expected to sell 15 million light vehicles. A total of 14.4 million were sold in 2012.