February’s reports showed a 60.56 percent drop in brand new car sales, with only 28 cars sold compared to 71 in the same month last year.
But Deets said their sales for used cars, car parts and services went up.
The island’s three car dealers — Joeten Motors, Triple “J” Corp. and Microl Corp. — sold 42 used cars last month.
For the first two months of the year, 72 used cars were sold while brand new cars sales totaled 64.
Deets told the Variety that for the past six months or so, there has been no drastic drop in the brand new car sales on island, not as worse as what other places are experiencing.
“The federalization issue has kept the people at bay from buying brand new cars. There’s a lot of uncertainty and people are not sure what to do, whether they stay or go,” Deets said.
He added that more people are also leaving the island, causing a contraction in the market.
“There are fewer people on island so fewer people are buying cars,” he said.
Deets said the drop in brand new car sales is not only felt in the CNMI.
“What we are going through now is being experienced everywhere, but on the whole, the CNMI is faring much better than other areas that are feeling the pang of drastic drop in car sales,” Deets said.
He added that the increase in parts and services indicates that the residents are taking good care of their cars instead of buying new ones.
Last month, Microl led the sales for both used and brand new cars — 15 new cars and 21 used cars.
Joeten Motors sold nine brand new cars and 11 used cars while Triple “J” Motors sold four brand new cars and 10 used cars.
Joeten Motors distributes Nissan, Ford, Honda and Kia. Microl Corp. sells Toyota and Chevrolet while Triple “J” Motors distributes Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki and Mazda.
