Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks are seen on a dealer’s lot in Troy, Mich., in this file photo.DRIVING LARGERegistered sales of new trucks and SUVs in Hamilton County peaked in 2004 and then fell in half over the next three years before rebounding after the recession.* 2013 – 6,523* 2012 – 6,429* 2011 – 5,834* 2010 – 5,070* 2009 – 3,908* 2008 – 5,950* 2007 – 7,700* 2006 – 7,441* 2005- 8,678* 2004 – 9,156Source: Number of trucks registered at the Hamilton County Clerk’s Office
Sales of new trucks and sport utility vehicles in Hamilton County swelled to their highest mark in six years in 2013.
“As long as gas is around $3 a gallon, we’ll choose an SUV to haul our kids around,” said Ed Emerson, Capital Toyota’s new car sales manager. “That’s typical of the American people.”
New light truck and SUV registrations in Hamilton County grew nearly 1.5 percent last year over 2012 to 6,523 vehicles, their best showing since 2007, according to the Clerk’s Office.
But sales of new cars in the county fell 4.7 percent last year. That drop pulled down the total of new vehicles titled by 1.5 percent over 2012 to 12,200, figures show.