Cruze sales up during first month of year

LORDSTOWN

January sales of the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze were up 11.1 percent last month compared to this time year ago.

A total of 18,693 Cruzes were sold while in January 2013 — when the cold temperatures and rough weather crippled sales for many automakers — 16,828 were sold.

General Motors said Tuesday it had the best January in seven years.

January is typically a difficult sales month for automakers.

GM’s total sales were up 18 percent, retail sales were up 14 percent and fleet deliveries were up 32 percent compared to a year ago.

GM delivered a total of 202,786 vehicles last month.

Analysts expected sales for GM, and all automakers, to increase this January because of the milder weather and other factors.