January auto sales expected to increase

January 31, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Analysts expect to see a positive month of car sales for January, which typically is offset by the weather and other factors.

Likewise, local dealers report a better January partially because of the milder weather.

“We have surpassed January of 2014,” said Mike Hudock, general sales manager for Stadium GM Superstore. “We have a great feeling for the upcoming year.”

Analysts have good feelings, too, about January’s auto-sales results that will be released by automakers Tuesday.

Edmunds’ analysts predict about 1.2 million cars will sell in January for a 14.4 percent increase in sales from January 2014.

Edmunds also expects every automaker from General Motors to Nissan to see a boost in sales.

With a large volume of vehicles across its four brands, Edmunds predicts GM will see a 16.7 percent boost in sales from January 2014.

Ford is expected to have an increase of 17.8 percent compared with last January.

Steve Bott, general sales manager for Mark Thomas Ford in Cortland, said the dealership already exceeded Ford’s sales expectations for the month. Overall, the dealership’s 2014 new-car sales were up 27 percent in 2014, and now the dealership is continuing that momentum for this year.

“It worked out a little better for us [this January],” Bott said.

January typically is the lowest sales month of the year because of weather, and because it falls after holiday shopping season, Edmunds Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell said.

“Last January was artificially low,” she said.

Last year, sales for compact sport utility vehicles were on an uptick after the polar vortex, TrueCar’s Vice President for Industry Insights Eric Lyman said.

“Those types of events impact sales and mix of sales,” Lyman said.

TrueCar predicts new sales, including fleet, will reach 1.4 million sales for the month, up 13.2 percent from last year. Since there is one more selling day this year, TrueCar adjusted its increase to 8.9 percent.

TrueCar expects every automaker’s sales to increase over last year including an increase of 18.4 percent for GM.

Kelley Blue Book analysts predict sales will increase 12.9 percent year-over-year to a total of 1.14 million sales allowing for the possibility of the highest January sales month since 2006.

KBB estimates also show every automaker with an increase in sales, and GM with an increase of 19.5 percent.

Analysts for KBB also break down its forecast by segment to show an increase in sales across the spectrum of vehicles.

The compact-car segment, which the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze falls under, is expected to have an increase of 11.7 percent in sales.