YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Despite lower demand in December, sales of the Chevrolet Cruze saw a 10% increase in 2014, making it a record year for the popular car.
More than a quarter-million of the passenger car made in Lordstown -- 273,060 – were sold in 2014 -- including 25,000 more than in 2013. In December, 17,800 were sold, 2% fewer than in the last month of 2013.
Overall, GM's sales rose 5.3% in 2014 to 2,935,008. The Chevrolet Silverado saw buyers for 529,755 of the pickup truck, making it the company's top seller, followed by the Cruze and Chevy Equinox; 242,242 of the SUV were sold last year. The Chevrolet brand sold 2,033,442 vehicles in 2014, a 4.4% increase.
Of GM's other brands, sales of Buicks were 11.4% higher than in 2013, resulting from a surge of the Encore, whose sales shot up 53%. The best-selling Buick was the Enclave with 62,300. Sales of GMC trucks rose 11.3% to 501,853 while those of Cadillac fell 6.5% to 170,750.
Meanwhile, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, formerly the Chrysler Group, enjoyed its best year since 2006 with sales of 2,090,548 Chryslers, Dodges and Jeeps. It was the first time the company surpassed sales of two million vehicles in eight years. 2014 marked the fifth consecutive year of annual sales growth for the company.
Sales of Chryslers were up 22% to reach 308,785. The Town & Country minivan saw volume rise 13% last year to 138,040, offsetting a 4% decline for its 200 model and an 8% decline for the 300.
Among Fiat Chrysler's other brands, sales of Jeep were 41% than in 2013, reaching 692,348 helped by a 592% increase in demand for the Cherokee, which recorded sales of 178,508. Sales for Dodge fell 4% to 574,155 units while those of Ram trucks rose 28% to 496,139.
Sales at the Ford Motor Co., which produces Fords, Lincolns and F-series pickup trucks, fell 0.5% to 2,480,942 last year. Sales of the vehicles bearing the Ford nameplate fell 1.1% to 2,386,468. Sales of Ford cars fell to 762,545, a 3.9% decrease.
Only two of Ford's six civilian models saw increased sales in 2014, the Fusion and Mustang. The Police Interceptor sedan saw sales fall 6.1%. SUV sales rose 1.7% in 2014 while sales of trucks fell 0.7%.
The Lincoln brand saw much better results, posting a 15.6% increase in sales to reach 94,474 of the luxury cars. The MKZ was the top seller for Lincoln at 34,009.
Sales of Nissan rose 6.9% last year to 117,318. Honda sold 1,373,029, a 1% increase over 2013. Mazda moved 305,801 of its vehicles, a 7.7% increase.
Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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