Northeast Ohio sees best April car sales in 10 years as buyers rush to beat Trump tariffs

With President Trump’s tariffs looming, new vehicle sales in the Valley and the rest of northeast Ohio increased by 22.41 percent in April compared to last year.

According to the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association, 23,124 new vehicles were registered last month, compared to the 18,890 sales in April 2024. Year-to-date sales figures are now up 8.72 percent over last year.

“Last month was the largest new car selling April in 10 years,” says Louis A. Vitantonio, president of the GCADA. “The rush to purchase or lease a new vehicle to avoid a potential cost increase was a driving factor, as each manufacturer addresses tariff implications with regard to pricing.”

“At this time, the new and used auto sales market is fluid, and predictability in consumer demand is difficult to determine.”

Used vehicle sales totaled 19,196 in April, an increase of 1.43 percent compared to the same month last year, and down by 6.02 percent year over year.

Chevrolet remains Northern Ohio’s best-selling brand, with 3,346 new vehicles sold in April. Ford’s sales of 2,662 kept the brand in second place. Honda held onto third with 2,249, followed by Kia and Toyota with 1,981 and 1,603 sales, respectively.

Retail sales figures are based on vehicle registration reports from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle sales data is from all dealers in 21 northeast Ohio counties, including Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana.