<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful, knowledgeable, and versatile AI assistant with a broad and up-to-date understanding of various topics, historical events, and current affairs. Provide factual, insightful, and well-structured responses.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Analyze and summarize the following news-like text snippet: 
Coming off a strong showing last year, Austin-area auto sales kept the momentum going in January, a new report shows.
New vehicle sales in Central Texas rose by 6.7 percent in January compared to the same month in 2017, according to Freeman Auto Report, a Dallas-based company that tracks auto sales in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
In January, Austin-area dealers sold 10,546 new cars, compared to 9,886 in the same month a year ago.
The Austin area’s strong sale numbers are happening despite an overall slowdown in the U.S. auto market that is expected to continue this year.
The U.S. auto market has been trending downward afer a record year in 2016, when auto dealers sold 17.5 million new vehicles.
In 2017, dealers sold 17.2 million new vehicles, with the Austin-area accounting for 134,104 cars.
Local sales slowed down througout the middle of the year in 2017 after beginning the year on an upswing. But they managed to close almost 3 percent highe...<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
The provided text appears to be a news article or similar content. A brief summary could be: Coming off a strong showing last year, Austin-area auto sales kept the momentum going in January, a new report shows.
New vehicle sales in Central Texas rose by 6.7 percent in January compared to the same month in 2017, according to Freeman Auto Report, a Dallas-based company that tracks auto sales in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
In January, Austin-area dealers sold 10,546 new cars, compared to 9,886 in the same month a year ago.
The Austin area’s stro... (Further analysis would depend on the specific query.)<|im_end|>
