Cruze Sales Fall Again as Automakers Post Drops

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Auto sales continued to lag behind last year’s figures in February as all three American manufacturers posted declines in their monthly sales reports.

General Motors’ total sales were down 6.9% to 220,905 while retail sales – those to individual customers – fell 10.5% to 168,971. The company’s top brand, Chevrolet, reported 149,605 cars, trucks and SUVs delivered, a decrease of 8.8% from February 2017. Leading sales for Chevy was the Silverado, of which 42,282 were sold last month.

The Lordstown-built Cruze also posted a year-over-year decline in sales last month as 12,875 were delivered, down 16.2%.

GMC sales fell 8% to 42,640 with the Sierra pickup topping the list with 13,162 sold. General Motors’ two other brands, Buick and Cadillac, reported an increase in sales last month. Buick rose 1.2% to 16,322 while Cadillac was up 14% to 12,338.

Ford Motor Co. saw its overall sales drop 6.9% to 194,132 and retail sales fall 8.5% to 123,073 last month. For the flagship brand, total sales were down 6.1% as 187,432 vehicles were sold, Topping the chart was the F-series line of trucks with 68,243 sold, followed by the Escape with 21,033 sold.

The Lincoln luxury brand was down 23.4% to 6,700 as sales of its models were down significantly. The brand’s best-seller was the MKX, of which 1,812 left showrooms, a 24.2% fall.

Fiat Chrysler’s sales were down 1% last month, falling to 165,903. Among its American brands, only Jeep posted year-over-year gains as sales rose 12% to 70,020 behind a strong month from the Compass. That model, No. 2 on the brand’s sales list behind the Grand Cherokee, saw sales climb 486% to 16,026 in February.

Meanwhile, Dodge was FCA’s second-best selling brand last month as 40,187 vehicles were sold, an 8% fall from a year prior, with the Caravan leading the charge with 16,443 delivered. The Ram truck line was No. 3 with 36,737 sold, a 14% drop, while Chrysler followed with 16,150 cars and SUVs sold. Chrysler’s No. 1 model was the Pacifica minivan with 11,482 sold.

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