Cruze sales up year over year in February

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

LORDSTOWN

It’s been a good week for the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze.

So far, it’s been named the top compact car by Consumer Reports and its February sales were up 18.2 percent year over year to 15,367. Sales of the compact car are up 29.1 percent to 35,316 for the year.

“It speaks positive results for our members,” said Glenn Johnson, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1112, who represents the assembly plant workers. “It is nice to have someone recognize that our members come to work every day and do their very best.”

The Cruze was the first domestic compact car in more than a decade to beat the foreign competition as Consumer Reports’ “Top Pick” for compact car. The magazine pointed out the Cruze’s smooth ride, roominess and price point.

Chevrolet also received the magazine’s “Top Pick” for large sedan with the Impala. This was the third year the Impala took the “Top Pick” title.

“These accolades continue to demonstrate why Chevrolet is the most awarded car company three years in a row,” said Michelle M. Malcho, a Chevrolet spokeswoman, in an emailed statement sent to The Vindicator.

Union leaders hope to see a continued increase in sales of the Cruze despite the trend away from compact cars. The trend cost General Motors’ Lordstown Complex its third shift, affecting about 235 jobs on the plant’s fabrication side and more than 600 jobs on the assembly side. The plant is now running two shifts.

“We still hold out hope that the market will be able to turn around,” said Robert Morales, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1714, who represents fabrication plant workers.

GM reported record sales of crossovers, large SUVs and pickups during the month. Total sales for GM were up 4 percent to 237,388. Retail sales were 188,715, up 5 percent from last year. Commercial deliveries were up 7 percent, making it the best February for commercial sales since 2008. Government sales were up 4 percent and daily rental deliveries were down 2 percent. Total fleet sales were up 2 percent.

Analysts noted that January and February sales are typically lighter. Sales across the industry in February 2017 were flat when compared with February 2016.

Auto sales are expected to be down this year over last year’s record-breaking 17.5 million.

“I think all the signs are showing a slowdown in sales and a build up of inventory,” said Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst for Edmunds.com.

Overall Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. sales totaled 208,440 vehicles in February, a 4 percent decline year over year. Ford’s retail sales of 134,576 vehicles were down 3 percent, while fleet sales were down 5 percent with 73,864 vehicles sold.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. LLC reported U.S. sales of 168,326, a 10 percent decrease compared with sales in February 2016 sales of 187,318.

Fiat’s fleet sales of 44,898 were down 26 percent year over year as the automaker continues its strategy of reducing fleet sales. Fleet sales represented 27 percent of total Fiat sales in February. Fiat’s retail sales of 123,428 were down 3 percent for the month, and represented 73 percent of total February sales.

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. reported total February sales of 121,686, an increase of 2.3 percent over February 2016 and a record for the month.

Toyota Motor North America Inc. reported its U.S. February 2017 sales of 174,339 vehicles, a decrease of 7.2 percent from February 2016.