New, Used Car Sales Drop in Mahoning Valley

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – New car sales throughout the Mahoning Valley fell last month, totaling 2,660 in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, according to data from the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers Association released Friday. The month, which saw an 8.3% drop from June 2015, was the third straight of year-over-year sales declines in the area. Used car sales totaled 1,955, a 13.1% decline.

“While the pace of sales has slowed in our market, we continue to see a healthy sales volume for trucks and SUVs,” said Louis A. Vitantonio, president of the association in a release. “Sales cannot increase indefinitely; we are seeing a plateau in the sales cycle in the Northern Ohio market.”

Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown sold the most new cars in the three-county region, delivering 179 cars, trucks and SUVs to customers, 29 fewer than last year. The two Sweeney franchises, both in Boardman, ranked second and third as the Chevrolet dealership sold 177 vehicles, 15 fewer than a year ago, and the Buick GMC store sold 149, an increase of 41. Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Austintown, placed fourth with 188 sold, followed by Taylor Kia of Boardman with 116.

Four of the top five models sold in the Mahoning Valley were Chevrolets, led by the Silverado, with 183 leaving showrooms. Sales of the Equinox fell 44% from a year ago, totaling 169. Rounding out the top five were the Lordstown-built Cruze, 129, the Malibu with 107 and the Jeep Cherokee with 74.

Despite falling sales of used models, the Cruze held the top spot as the Mahoning Valley’s top used car, with 88 sold in June, 11 more than last year and 33 more units than the second-place vehicle, the Ford Escape, which sold 57.

Pictured: The Chevrolet Silverado was the top-selling new vehicle  locally.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.