Local auto sales strong in February

By Jamison Cocklin

jcocklin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

February vehicle sales were strong across the region with Chevrolet outperforming all its competitors in the top-40 new-makes category, according to the Eastern Automobile Dealers Association of Ohio.

Chevrolet sold 547 units for a 31 percent year-over-year increase, and the automaker’s new models surpassed second-place Ford by 271 sales.

Sales of the Chevrolet Silverado 150 were at the top of the local new-models list, with a year-over-year improvement of 58 units, selling 117 last month versus 59 in February 2012. The Equinox, Malibu, Cruze and Ford F-150 rounded out the top of the list, landing among the top-five new models, respectively.

Last month, however, the Cruze managed to sell only three more models compared with February 2012. A boost in truck sales in the area coincides with a similar spike nationwide. For example, sales of GM’s full-size pickups were up 28 percent in February as Cruze sales decreased by 12 percent across the country.

Ford, Toyota, GMC and Dodge joined Chevrolet locally on the top-40 new-makes list.

Greenwood Chevrolet again was No. 1 in sales of new and used vehicles, selling 253 in February, compared with 229 last year at the same time. Sweeney Buick GMC had a good month selling 171 units, an improvement of 56 from 2012, while Sweeney Chevrolet placed third among top new and used dealerships.