Local New-Car Sales Drop 8.4% in February, More Year-to-Date

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Sales of new cars and trucks to residents in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in February fell sharply – down 8.4% – as did total new-car sales year-to-date – down 9.3%.

According to the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association, 1,524 new vehicles were sold last month in the three-county area, or 297 fewer vehicles than February 2022. Year-to-date, 3,457 new vehicles have been sold locally, or 274 fewer vehicles.

Used-car sales, however, were 1,723 last month, down by 32 vehicles, or 1.8%, compared with February 2022. Total used-vehicle sales during the first two months of the year were 3,665, a gain of 28 vehicles compared with 2022.

When new- and used-vehicle sales in the three-counties are combined, the picture is a bit brighter. For the month of February, combined sales were 4,517 – down 52 vehicles from February 2022, or just 1%. Year-to-date, new- and used-vehicle sales rose by 49, or 1%.

Local Dealership Rankings

Boardman Subaru sold the most new vehicles in February – 129, and leads locally with 228 sold year-to-date. Greenwood Chevrolet ranked second in February for new sales, 95, and third year-to-date, 162 new vehicles sold. Ken Ganley Kia Boardman was third in February, 88 new cars, and second year-to-date, 218 new vehicles.

Rounding out the top five in February were Fred Martin Ford, 78, and Toyota of Boardman, 71. For the first two months of 2023, Fred Martin Ford is fourth, 164 new vehicles, and Toyota of Boardman fifth, 130.

Boardman Subaru also ranks first for combined new and used sales in February, 268; as well as first in year-to-date sales, 493. Ranked second is Sarchione Chevrolet, 239 in February and 486 year-to-date. Rounding out the top five in February are Ken Ganley Kia Boardman, 193, Preston Chevrolet Cadillac Kia, 189, and Fred Martin Ford, 187. Year-to-date, Preston is third with 453 sold, followed by Ken Ganley Kia, 430, and Fred Martin Ford, 422.

Greater Cleveland Region

New-vehicle sales in February fell by 1.73% compared with February 2022. Dealers in the Greater Cleveland region – 21 counties – sold 14,165 new cars, trucks and SUVs last month, a difference of 250 vehicle sales from the same month a year ago.

“Continued economic turbulence, inflation and inventory shortages are keeping the Northern Ohio new vehicle sales pace on par with 2022,” says Louis A. Vitantonio, president of the GCADA. “As we wrap up the 2023 Cleveland Auto Show this weekend, where consumers have the chance to compare brands before making their purchase decision, we expect to see added traffic in dealerships and anticipate increased sales activity in the coming weeks.”

The Cleveland Auto Show is open at the I-X Center in Cleveland from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Chevrolet remained the region’s best-selling brand with 1,976 new-vehicle sales. Ford came in a close second with 1,951 sales in February. Northeast Ohioans bought 1,206 new Kias last month, ahead of Honda’s 1,061 and Toyota’s 1,034 sales. 

Retail sales figures are based on vehicle registration reports from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle sales data includes all dealers in these 21 counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.