Staff report

Mahoning Valley’s franchised dealers, like its Northern Ohio counterparts, suffered a freeze in new vehicle sales following the release of the February’s figures.

The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association, based in Broadview Heights, said new vehicle sales of 31,798 marked a 7.89% decrease for the year, compared to the first two months of 2025. Dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties sold 1,715 new vehicles in January and February and 1,816 during the same period in 2025. The drop of 101 vehicles represented a decrease of approximately 5.6%, according to association numbers.

Used vehicle sales inched ahead 3.23% in Northern Ohio last month, as pre-owned inventory levels increased. Valley dealers boosted their used car sales from 2025 by 294. The 5.6% jump came from 1,756 sales in January and February against 1,607 during the same time frame in 2025.

“The beginning of February was hampered by unrelenting winter weather, keeping consumers from visiting dealerships,” said Louis A. Vitantonio, association president, in a news release. “Sales resulting from the 2026 Cleveland Auto Show, which ended March 1, are not yet fully processed, and we anticipate an uptick as the show jumpstarts the spring selling season in Northern Ohio.

“Affordability continues to be an obstacle for customers shopping for a new vehicle, and will be a challenge throughout 2026.”

The Chevrolet brand, and General Motors staple, paced Northern Ohio’s sales with a total of 2,076 new vehicles sold (4,404, year to date).

Trailing were Ford, 1,602 (3,596); Honda, 1,339 (2,996); Kia, 1,272 (2,691); Toyota, 1,152 (2,641); Subaru, 869 (1,804); Jeep, 751 (1,623); Hyundai, 746 (1,751); Nissan, 663 (1,391); and GMC, 655 (1,466). The bottom five manufacturers in February, with a minimum of 100 sales for the year, were Lexus, 194; Mercedes‒Benz, 176; BMW, 175; Cadillac, 147; and Lincoln, 106.

Tesla sold 90 of its models in February.

Five brands, with at least 100 sales for the year, witnessed sales improvement from January into February. They were Genesis, 14.15% (121 sales, year to date); GMC, 13.82% (1,466); Hyundai, 7.69% (1,751); Lexus, 7.67% (421); and Acura, 7.50% (172).

Genesis, which appeared on the market in 2015, is a spinoff of South Korea’s Hyundai.

Last month, Boardman Subaru drew buyers from the three-county area as it reported 214 used and new car sales. Greenwood Chevrolet followed with 167 and Ken Ganley Kia Boardman netted 166. Klaben Ford Lincoln of Warren had 135 sales, with 133 for Toyota of Warren.

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.

The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association represents more than 280 franchised motor vehicle dealers, which include new-car, truck, motorcycle and RV dealers in 32 Ohio counties along the Lake Erie shore and beyond. More information on the GCADA can be found at www.gcada.org.