Staff report

Chevrolet is the go-to brand across northern Ohio for 2025, the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association reported earlier this month.

Franchised dealers in the association’s 21-county region reported 33,079 new Chevys were sold last year. The automaker also outpaced the field in December with 2,616 new vehicle sales.

Dealers reported 229,118 new cars, trucks and SUVs were sold in 2025. Compared to 2024, sales growth rounded out the year ahead by 4.52%.

Last month, 18,298 new vehicles moved off the lots. Comparing sales to the same month a year prior, December 2025 was off by 1.63%.

“As anticipated, 2025 new vehicle sales in the region grew by a single digit percentage,” said Louis A. Vitantonio, association president. “Looking ahead, we foresee similar results as demand, affordability and tariff implications affect purchase decisions in 2026.”

The auto sector continues to rebound from the COVID pandemic. Last year represented the fourth consecutive improvement in sales since 2022 when 197,164 new vehicle registrations were reported. Within the past 10 years, 2017’s 252,111 sales were the best session.

“We have definitely noticed the same,” said Tino Merlo, general manager of Toyota of Warren in Niles. “A lot of it has been due to inventory levels and production. Since inventory levels have gone up, the sales have gone up.

“There’s always a high demand for the Toyota product.”

Ford claimed second in new sales for the year with 26,901 followed by Honda, 20,597; Kia, 19,842; Toyota, 18,960; Subaru, 13,079; Hyundai, 12,105; Jeep, 10,961; Ram, 8,782; and GMC, 8,602.

The top-selling brands in December were Chevrolet, 2,616 units; Ford, 2,151; Toyota, 1,656; Honda, 1,519; Kia, 1,458; Subaru, 1,054; Hyundai, 918; Jeep, 854; Ram, 849; and GMC, 800.

With brands reporting at least 100 vehicle sales in 2025, Alfa Romeo was the loss leader at -36% with 128 vehicles sold. It was followed by Dodge, -28.97%, 161; Mitsubishi, -15.48%, 1,141; Audi, -13.72%, 1,239; Mazda, -12.06%, 5,340; Tesla, -10.52%, 3,208; Volvo, -7.67%, 1,119; Volkswagen, -7.31%, 5,450; Isuzu, -7.14%; and Acura, -7.04, 1,268.

Toyota of Warren was the top dealership in Trumbull County last month with 148 new and used car sales. The dealership was followed by Klaben Ford Lincoln of Warren (107), Sims Buick GMC Truck (80), Diane Sauer Chevrolet (74) and Greenwood Hubbard Chevrolet (50).

“Consumer confidence is so strong it keeps people buying Toyotas,” Merlo said. “The way we take care of people, not just before they buy but after they buy, keeps a lot of people coming back here to us.”

Boardman Subaru led Mahoning County and the Valley with 216 new and used vehicle sales in December. Following were Fairway Ford (208), Ken Ganley Kia of Boardman (184), Cochran Buick GMC (160) and Fairway Chevrolet GMC of East Liverpool (152).

Vehicle sales data includes all dealers in 21 counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

The association represents more than 280 franchised motor vehicle dealers, which include new-car, truck, motorcycle and RV dealers in 32 Ohio counties.

More information can be found at www.gcada.org.