Rye Area Dealerships Report High End-of-Year Sales

Despite the state of the economy, car dealerships in the Rye area reported December 2009 sales figures that surpass those of their national counterparts.

Rye Ford sold 100 vehicles in December, a 183 percent increase in sales from the same month last year. Ford Motor Company reports that overall sales have increased 33 percent for the same period of time.

"We were surprised," said Anthony Gualdino, Sales Manager at Rye Ford.

End-of-year holiday sales have typically helped to boost dealers' profits. However, the past 18 months have been some of the worst months for the auto industry. Chrysler filed for bankruptcy in April 2009, while General Motors declared bankruptcy in June. The National Automobile Dealers Association reported 2008 new car sales were down 18 percent from the year before.

With such bleak figures, many car dealers were hopeful for a slight uptick in sales as consumer confidence in the economy increased.

Gualdino attributes the high number of sales to a brighter consumer outlook. "People's confidence has gotten better. People have a better attitude when they're coming through the door," he said.

Gualdino reports that two-thirds of Rye Ford's 100 vehicle sales this holiday season were trucks. While SUV sales figures were low, the Escape, Ford's SUV hybrid, were in high demand.

Ford Motor Company reported that it sold 173,044 Escape Crossovers last year, making 2009 the second best year for the vehicle since it was first introduced to the market in 2001. Ford reported a 75 percent increase in Escape sales from December 2008 for the same period in 2009.   

At Mercedes Benz of Larchmont, "SUV sales have been very strong," said Bob Lasagne, Sales Manager.

"They've increased 10 percent over the past two years. I think people are getting adjusted to gas prices stabilized around $3 a gallon. Sport utilities are great for the Northeast; people still buy them," Lasagne said.

Lasagne said that "this year [2009] was a little down compared to last year," but he shares an optimistic outlook for 2010 business with other local sales managers.

"I think the economy is coming back," Lasagne said.

While Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. recently reported that 2009 overall sales decreased 20.2 percent from the year before, Rene Garcia, sales manager at DCH Toyota City in Mamaroneck, said "we're looking forward to a better year than last."

With 114 new vehicles sold in December, DCH Toyota City had a 14 percent increase in sales when compared to 2008.

Garcia said that sales of Toyota's SUV line made up 40 percent of total sales in December and noted a "high demand" for the Highlander hybrid.

Jeff Hapoienu, sales manager at Ray Catena Lexus in Larchmont, also reports high SUV hybrid sales. Ray Catena Lexus had a 5 percent increase in sales from December 2008 to December 2009.

"Overall, we're 100 cars ahead of last year," Hapoienu said.

Hapoienu attributes the increase in local Lexus sales to aggressive advertising from its national brand. He said "Lexus is aggressive in its programs. Typically, the biggest month for Lexus is December with our December to Remember commercials."

Garcia and Gualdino also said that national advertising and incentive techniques have helped to draw in local customers.