Valley vehicle sales increase

Staff report

Local vehicle sales were strong in December, rounding out a solid year of auto sales in the Mahoning Valley, according to a report by the Automotive Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.

Valley auto dealers sold a total of 4,746 new and used cars last month, an increase of 690 units over the same period in 2012.

December’s sales numbers helped 2013 retail totals hit 69,985 units in the Valley, up from 64,612 the previous year.

The Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze, which in 2013 posted its best year of nationwide sales, outpaced all other new models locally in sales last year, as local dealers moved 1,744 units on the year. Some 165 of those sales came in December, a 113 car jump from the previous December.

Chevrolet models Malibu and Equinox came in second and third place, respectively, on ADAEO’s top-40 list for new models.

The dealers sold 1,573 Malibus and 1,503 Equinoxes.

Chevrolet led the way in the new-makes category. The automaker sold 542 models in December, a 142- car improvement compared with the same time in 2012.

On the year, Chevrolet more than doubled its closest competitor, Ford, in new-car sales, with 8,028 cars sold in the Valley.

Greenwood Chevrolet was tops again in new- and used-car sales. The Austintown dealership improved its December sales by 90 cars, moving 261 units on the month.

Sales on the year hit 3,448 units, good for a 686-car improvement on 2012’s figures.

Taylor Kia, Stadium GM Superstore, Sweeney Chevrolet and Sweeney Buick GMC rounded out the top five dealerships in sales of new and used cars.