Domestic Auto Sales Down Across the Board

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Car sales for the Big Three continue to lag behind last year’s record numbers as General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles all reported a drop in sales in June.

GM’s retail sales were down 3.1% to 202,908 as three of the four brands reported a drop in sales last month. Only Buick, with sales totaling 17,042 for a 6.2% climb, posted a gain.

Chevrolet sales dropped 1.5% to 138,996 nationwide. Leading sales for the brand was the Silverado with 50,515 – a 1.7% gain from June 2017 – followed by the Equinox with 29,182. The Lordstown-built Cruze fell off 31.3% to 12,828 in the final full month before the plant’s three-week summer shutdown.

Cadillac’s sales were down 11.8% to 12,580 and were led by the XT5, of which 5,091 were delivered to customers. GMC tallied 41,434 deliveries – 3.6% lower than last year – with the Sierra pickup topping its sales chart.

Ford Motor Co. reported 227,979 cars, trucks and SUVs sold in June, a 5.1% decline from last year. For the flagship brand, sales totaled 218,704 for a 5.4% drop compared to a year ago. Topping Ford’s sales was the F-series truck line, of which 77,895 were sold. The company’s other brand, Lincoln, saw sales rise 5.3% to 9,275 and were led by the MKX, of which 2,475 were sold.

Among its six brands, Fiat Chrysler saw sales drop 7% to 187,348. The leading brand last month was Jeep, with 73,153 sold for an 11% fall from a year ago. Topping that brand’s sales was the Grand Cherokee with 20,176 delivered. Following Jeep was the Ram truck brand, with 48,645 leaving showrooms for a 6% increase.

Dodge ranked third among Fiat Chrysler brands as 42,550 sold – a 14% drop – led by the Caravan, with 16,210 delivered. For Chrysler, 19,741 vehicles were sold, a 15% drop, and led by the Pacifica of which 12,399 were sold. For the company’s two import brands, Fiat and Alfa Romeo, sales were down for the prior – a 4% decline to 2,242 – while the latter was bolstered by the introduction of a new model. With the arrival of the Giulia, Alfa Romeo sales totaled 1,017, up from 36 in June 2016.

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