Local auto sales drop in January, despite improved new car sales

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Total new and used-vehicle sales declined last month in the Mahoning Valley compared with January 2013.

Valley dealers sold 5,181 total vehicles last month, down from 5,248 the year before, according to data released Friday by the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.

Used-vehicle sales accounted for most of the decline. Dealers sold 2,880 used vehicles in January, a 166-vehicle difference from the same time last year.

Local dealers made 63 more new-vehicle sales in January than they did the year before, totaling 2,301 for the month.

Vehicle-sale results across the country came in lower than expected last month, with automakers and industry analysts attributing the drop to the extreme winter weather that affected many parts of the country.

The Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze led all new models in sales last month, with 224 units sold in the Valley. That was an increase of 113 cars from last January.

The Chevrolet Malibu and Equinox rounded out the top three for new-car sales, with 121 and 105 vehicles sold, respectively.

The Chevrolet Impala was the top-selling used vehicle, with 91 cars sold. It was followed by the Ford F-150 and Malibu, with 80 and 76 in sales, respectively.

Though it sold 27 fewer vehicles last month than the year prior, Greenwood Chevrolet led local dealers with 253 sales of new and used cars last month.

Sweeney Chevrolet and Taylor Kia both improved sales in a year-over-year comparison to finish second and third, respectively.

Sweeney Chevrolet reported 215 new and used-vehicle sales, while Taylor Kia finished January with 211 sales.