Local auto sales strong in April

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Local vehicle sales continued to rise in April, according to data released Friday by the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.

Automakers across the country are expected to sell 1 million more vehicles this year than they did during 2012, according to several projections from analysts. The estimated increase is based on pent-up demand, more home construction and an overall improvement in consumer sentiment.

Those trends were on display throughout the Valley last month, when the area’s top-five dealerships increased sales of new and used vehicles by 29 percent from April 2012.

The Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze was the Valley’s top-selling new model in April, with 160 units sold versus 112 at the same time last year. The Chevrolet Malibu was second, selling 131 units in April, a drop from last year, when 144 Malibus were sold. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 sold 123 units last month, up from 59 a year before.

Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Dodge and Kia were the region’s top-selling new makes.

Greenwood Chevrolet, Taylor Kia and Stadium GM Superstore were April’s top dealerships, selling a combined 779 vehicles.