YOUNGSTOWN – Auto sales in the Mahoning Valley were halted last month from September 2020, but dealerships remain well ahead of the pace they set last year, according to the latest data from the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association.
The Cleveland-based auto retail group reports that in September 4,682 new and used vehicles were sold in northern Ohio. However, this is 11% less than the 5,261 vehicles sold in September 2020.
Through September, dealer sales rose by double digits – 10.4% ahead of the 41,758 vehicles sold during the period last year. So far in 2021, 46,103 vehicles have been sold, according to the association.
The new and used vehicle segments had mixed results for the month but remained up for the year.
New vehicle sales fell 31.3% to 2,094 vehicles from 3,047 for the month. For the year, category sales are up 9% to 24,011 from 22,030.
Used vehicle sales increased 16 percent for September to 2,497. For the year, used vehicle sales increased 12.4%, from 18,874 to 21,211.
The Mahoning County dealerships with the most sales to Mahoning Valley buyers for the month were Taylor Kia of Boardman, 228, the area’s top-selling dealer; Fred Martin Ford, 216; and Sweeney Buick GMC, 197.
The top sellers of new vehicles were Taylor Kia of Boardman, 130; Kufleitner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Boardman, 106; and Sweeney Buick GMC, 101. Top sellers of used vehicles were Fred Martin Ford, 129; Greenwood Chevrolet, 118; and Fairway Ford, 106.
Across the association’s 21 counties, the struggle of dealers to meet demand for new vehicles due to a global chip shortage continues. Dealers sold 17,249 new vehicles in September, down 26.4% from 23,445 in September 2020.
“The limited supply of new vehicles is now impacting sales figures more than any other month so far this year. Therefore, the used vehicle market continues to be the place where consumers find new means of transport, ”said Louis A. Vitantonio, president of the association. “It will take more time for the large supply of new vehicles to return to dealer lots. “
“If a consumer is looking for a new vehicle, their best option is to reserve one that is still in production or on its way to the dealership,” he said.
Used vehicle sales remained stable. Dealers reported 20,674 last month, an increase of 6.5% from a year ago.
