Cruze sales drop as GM transitions to new model

YOUNGSTOWN

Sales reported by General Motors on Tuesday reflect the automaker’s transition from the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze Limited to the next-generation Cruze.

The Cruze saw a 32.4 percent drop in sales. A total of 14,153 sales were reported in April 2016, compared with 20,947 in April 2015.

“We are getting the [next-generation] Cruze out to the customers,” said Glenn Johnson, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112.

The Cruze sales numbers reflect a selldown of the first-generation Cruze Limited. It’s ideal, Johnson explained, for the dealers to have a limited supply of the old Cruze so they can make way for the new Cruze.

But there’s some frustration out there from dealers because of a limited supply of the new Cruzes, which were shipped out starting March 21. Last week, the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant went on a two-week production suspension because of the impact felt by suppliers from the recent Japan earthquakes. Workers are scheduled to return Monday.

Read more about the situation in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.