Auto sales numbers are out and there's mixed news for July for the Big Three. Ford saw its July sales jump 2 percent from the same time a year ago. General Motors sales went in the other direction, the automaker reports sales fell 6-percent compared to July of 2011. Chrysler had some positive news to share, extending 28-months of straight gains. Its sales numbers were up 13 percent last month.
The Chrysler increase is obviously good news for local dealers. In fact, sales at one Chrysler dealership were in the top ten in the nation last month.
As you probably know they can't build enough Wranglers here in Toledo to keep up with demand and just weeks before the final Liberty rolls off the lines sales of that vehicle have increased considerably.
Chrysler posted it's best July sales numbers since 2007. Sam DeCola is looking to buy a Chrysler product, "My wife and I have been loyal Chrysler customers for twenty years. I usually trade in every 4-5 years, and it's time."
According to Chrysler, overall Jeep sales in July were the best they've been since 2005. After the final Jeep Liberty rolls off the lines at the Toledo Assembly Complex in mid August,the plant will be shut down and re-tooled so workers can begin making the Liberty's replacement. the new SUV won't hit showrooms until next spring. Yark sales manager Dave Doster says because of that, here at Yark, they loaded up the lot with the mid size SUV, "We started building our inventory months ago because it has to carry us through for a few months and it has some great incentives on it right now, so they are moving."
Liberty sales were up 34% in July compared to July 2011, the biggest increase of any Jeep model and they were up 35% for the first six months of this year compared to the same time last year. Doster says that is good for sales, "Historically anytime there is a model change the put incentives on it and it's a good vehicle so it will sell."
The Wrangler plant can't build enough of the iconic jeep to keep up with demand. Wrangler sales were up 23% when comparing the first six months of the year to the same time frame last year. However, Wranglers sales numbers dropped 5 percent last month compared to July 2011.
Doster believes there's a simple explanation for that, "I believe the reason the number is down a bit is that inventories are low, so I am sure that has an effect on the numbers. We'd sure like more of them, and we try to get more, everyone tries to get more."
When it comes to sales, Yark racked up a national ranking in July, "Yark was seventh in the nation last month when it comes to sales at a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep dealership, and we only missed 5th place by 8 units."
While July was a great month at Yark, they're also expecting banner sales August. That's because as the 2013 models start to roll in, there are some great deals on the 2012 models.
And they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the liberty's replacement. It's expected in showrooms next May.
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