Cruze sales up year over year

May 3, 2017 at 12:04a.m.

LORDSTOWN

May’s Cruze sales figures are a confidence boost for autoworkers at the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Complex, a union official said.

The Lordstown-built Cruze’s April 2017 sales came in at 17,537, up from 14,153 sold in April 2016, GM reported Tuesday.

“It is something to be very proud of,” said Robert Morales, United Auto Workers Local 1714 president. “We are making strides every month.”

Including the 3,780 Mexico-built Cruze Hatchback models sold, a total of 21,317 Cruzes were sold in April 2017.

In March, dealers sold 18,607 Cruzes, which compares with 9,881 Cruzes sold in March 2016. A total of 15,054 Cruze sedans and 3,553 hatchbacks were sold in March 2017.

For the year to date, there have been 75,240 Cruzes sold, up 46.4 percent from last year. Of that, 12,748 were Cruze Hatchback models.

Despite the sales increase, analysts say there’s still a continuing shift away from cars, and automakers are adjusting their inventory levels to the lower demand. Locally, cutbacks have been made at the Lordstown plant to reduce inventory levels of the Cruze.

“We are very pleased that the Cruze is doing very well,” said Glenn Johnson, president of UAW Local 1112. “It’s bittersweet because we have some downturn with our membership. We encourage people to keep taking a look at and buying the Chevy Cruze.”

Morales believes Consumer Reports naming the Cruze as a “Top Pick” is one of the reasons why the compact car’s sales have been up. It was the first time in more than a decade for a domestic compact car to receive the “Top Pick” title from Consumer Reports. The Cruze’s 153-horsepower, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, its roominess and gas mileage of 30 mpg city and 47 mpg highway were noted as reasons it received the title.

“To achieve that goal is important because that award has been dominated by the foreign market for years,” Morales said.

Sales across the industry were down over last year’s, and analysts expect the year to end below last year’s record of 17.5 million, but still in the 17 million range.

“Yes, sales are down,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Autotrader. “That’s exactly what we have been expecting in this stage of the cycle.”

But Krebs stressed that although sales are down, they are still at a high mark. In fact, since 1980 there have been only four years with sales in the 17 millions.

All the economic indicators – including unemployment levels, the stock market, interest rates and gas prices – remain favorable for consumers to go new-vehicle shopping.

“From a macro perspective, demand will remain strong,” said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

GM posted a 6 percent overall decline in sales. When adjusted for one fewer selling day, the automaker’s April sales were down 4 percent. GM retail sales were down 4 percent, and fleet sales were down 11 percent.

Ford’s overall sales were down 7.2 percent.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reported a 7 percent decline in total U.S. sales.

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. reported a 7 percent decline from last year.