Cruze Sales Ramp Up with Production
11-15-2010, 10:52 AM
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Cruze Sales Ramp Up with Production
Nov. 15, 2010 6:42 a.m.
By Dan O'Brien
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Demand for the new Chevrolet Cruze, the small car produced at General Motors Co.'s Lordstown Complex, is proving strong among buyers in the Mahoning Valley during its second month of production.
Automobile dealers in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties report that 39 new Cruzes were sold in October during its first full sales month, making it the sixth best-selling model in the Mahoning Valley. Those numbers helped dealers record an overall 43% improvement in new vehicle sales compared to a year ago.
"We haven't sold them all yet," reported Diane Sauer, owner of Diane Sauer Chevrolet, Warren. "We sold two in September when they were ramping up, and sold 11 in October."
The dealership is on pace to break that number this month, Sauer said. Through Nov. 12, the showroom had already sold 10. "Demand is very strong," she said, noting many of the new units on order "already have somebody's name on it."
Sauer reports that she doesn't anticipate any problems with inventory and says there are about 25 on the lot. She expects to sell even more once the Cruze Eco hits the lot.
The Eco manual transmission model achieves 42 miles per gallon on the highway and is sure to be a strong attraction among buyers, Sauer said. "It's everything we've hoped it would be," she remarked.
Dealers in the three counties say that the number of new-car sales is steadily on the increase. According to the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio's monthly report, area showrooms reported new vehicle sales of 1,674 units, compared to year-ago sales of 1,171.
Combined sales of new and used vehicles were up 15% for the month, the report shows. Total sales of new and used vehicles stood at 4,848 compared to 4,204 a year ago.
Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown sold the most new vehicles of any dealer in the area with 90, while Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Austintown, sold the second-highest number of units at 88.
Taylor Kia, Boardman, reported it sold 85 new units; the Honda Store, Boardman, said it sold 84 new vehicles; while Columbiana Buick said it sold 75 new units.
"We did real good this month," said Chuck Eddy, owner of the Eddy dealership. "This year has been much more stable and balanced.'
Consumers are exhibiting more confidence in GM and Chrysler a year after the two giant automakers emerged from a quick bankruptcy reorganization that was backed by the federal government, Eddy said.
Sales during the last three months of 2009 were awful, he related, as the economy was still locked into a devastating recession with job losses still mounting.
This year, "There's a lot more lift – a much better feeling about GM and Chrysler," Eddy said. Moreover, a healthier sign is that much of the demand is retail interest from consumers, not fleet sales. "Everything looks like an improvement," he said.
GM reported total October sales rose 13% among its four core brands, while Chrysler said its sales skyrocketed 37%.
Chrysler, Eddy said, is looking to increase sales 70% next year with a whole slate of new products coming in the next several months. "I've told my people that we'll be looking to get another 50 new cars a month," he said.
Among those new brands next year at Eddy's dealership will be Fiat, the Italian automaker that today manages Chrysler and owns 20% of the company.
"We'll be selling them after Jan. 1, 2011," he reported.
According to the Automobile Dealers Association report, year-to-date sales of new vehicles are up 8.5% in the Mahoning Valley. Through October, sales of new cars and trucks stood at 16,422 versus 15,123 during the same period in 2009.
The top five models sold during the month were the Chevrolet Malibu with 140; the Chevrolet Silverado pickup with 70; the Chevrolet Equinox with 66 new units sold; the Ford Focus with 53; and the Ford F-150 pickup with 47.
By Dan O'Brien
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Demand for the new Chevrolet Cruze, the small car produced at General Motors Co.'s Lordstown Complex, is proving strong among buyers in the Mahoning Valley during its second month of production.
Automobile dealers in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties report that 39 new Cruzes were sold in October during its first full sales month, making it the sixth best-selling model in the Mahoning Valley. Those numbers helped dealers record an overall 43% improvement in new vehicle sales compared to a year ago.
"We haven't sold them all yet," reported Diane Sauer, owner of Diane Sauer Chevrolet, Warren. "We sold two in September when they were ramping up, and sold 11 in October."
The dealership is on pace to break that number this month, Sauer said. Through Nov. 12, the showroom had already sold 10. "Demand is very strong," she said, noting many of the new units on order "already have somebody's name on it."
Sauer reports that she doesn't anticipate any problems with inventory and says there are about 25 on the lot. She expects to sell even more once the Cruze Eco hits the lot.
The Eco manual transmission model achieves 42 miles per gallon on the highway and is sure to be a strong attraction among buyers, Sauer said. "It's everything we've hoped it would be," she remarked.
Dealers in the three counties say that the number of new-car sales is steadily on the increase. According to the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio's monthly report, area showrooms reported new vehicle sales of 1,674 units, compared to year-ago sales of 1,171.
Combined sales of new and used vehicles were up 15% for the month, the report shows. Total sales of new and used vehicles stood at 4,848 compared to 4,204 a year ago.
Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown sold the most new vehicles of any dealer in the area with 90, while Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Austintown, sold the second-highest number of units at 88.
Taylor Kia, Boardman, reported it sold 85 new units; the Honda Store, Boardman, said it sold 84 new vehicles; while Columbiana Buick said it sold 75 new units.
"We did real good this month," said Chuck Eddy, owner of the Eddy dealership. "This year has been much more stable and balanced.'
Consumers are exhibiting more confidence in GM and Chrysler a year after the two giant automakers emerged from a quick bankruptcy reorganization that was backed by the federal government, Eddy said.
Sales during the last three months of 2009 were awful, he related, as the economy was still locked into a devastating recession with job losses still mounting.
This year, "There's a lot more lift – a much better feeling about GM and Chrysler," Eddy said. Moreover, a healthier sign is that much of the demand is retail interest from consumers, not fleet sales. "Everything looks like an improvement," he said.
GM reported total October sales rose 13% among its four core brands, while Chrysler said its sales skyrocketed 37%.
Chrysler, Eddy said, is looking to increase sales 70% next year with a whole slate of new products coming in the next several months. "I've told my people that we'll be looking to get another 50 new cars a month," he said.
Among those new brands next year at Eddy's dealership will be Fiat, the Italian automaker that today manages Chrysler and owns 20% of the company.
"We'll be selling them after Jan. 1, 2011," he reported.
According to the Automobile Dealers Association report, year-to-date sales of new vehicles are up 8.5% in the Mahoning Valley. Through October, sales of new cars and trucks stood at 16,422 versus 15,123 during the same period in 2009.
The top five models sold during the month were the Chevrolet Malibu with 140; the Chevrolet Silverado pickup with 70; the Chevrolet Equinox with 66 new units sold; the Ford Focus with 53; and the Ford F-150 pickup with 47.
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