Chrysler Group March U.S. Sales Rise 2 Percent
#1
04-05-2006, 08:38 AM
Chrysler Group March U.S. Sales Rise 2 Percent
DaimlerChrysler Media
Chrysler Group Reports March 2006 U.S. Sales Rise 2 Percent; First Quarter Sales Increase 3 Percent
-Strong Retail Sales of Dodge Caliber, Jeep® Commander and Dodge Ram Lift Total Company Performance in March
-Dodge Ram Monthly Sales Improve 9 Percent
-Jeep Wrangler Sets New Monthly Sales Record; Sales Rise 21 Percent Year-Over-Year
-Dodge Caliber Sales Increase 316 Percent over February Sales as Dealers Continue to Receive Shipments
-Dodge Sprinter Sales Rise 49 Percent Over Last Year and Establish a New Monthly Sales Record
-Chrysler Brand Sets New Quarterly Sales Record
Auburn Hills, Mich., Apr 3, 2006 -
Led by strong retail performance and driven by new products such as the Dodge Caliber and Jeep® Commander, Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales for March 2006 of 216,412 units, an increase of 2 percent over March 2005 sales of 212,978. Quarterly sales for the Chrysler Group totaled 562,244 units, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2005 first quarter sales of 546,732 units. All sales are being reported as unadjusted since the number of selling days is equal to last year.
"Strong sales of key products like the Dodge Ram pickup, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Commander and Chrysler 300 drove us to outperform the industry in March and the quarter," said Gary Dilts, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President — Sales. "The Dodge Caliber and the success of our LX platform pushed the company's car business up 13 percent, making the Chrysler Group a stronger player in the car market."
Monthly sales for the Dodge brand rose 1 percent to 113,719 units, compared to March 2005 sales of 112,105. Sales of the Dodge Ram improved 9 percent to 38,709 units. Sales totaled 35,531 last year. The all-new Dodge Caliber posted sales of 6,541 units and established its popularity by remaining on dealer's lots an average of 10 days. Sales of the Dodge Sprinter rose 49 percent to a monthly record 2,060 units as the company continues to make significant progress in the commercial vehicle market. March 2005 Dodge Sprinter sales totaled 1,384 units.
Dodge brand quarterly sales of 286,405 units were nearly even with year ago sales of 287,258 units. For the quarter, the industry-leading Dodge Caravan with the exclusive Stow 'n Go seating system posted quarterly sales of 58,624 units, a 2 percent increase over 2005 first quarter sales of 57,665 units.
Chrysler brand first quarter sales totaled a record 162,888 units, an increase of 5 percent over the previous record first quarter 2005 sales of 155,762 units. For the month, Chrysler brand sales declined 2 percent. Chrysler 300 established an all-time quarterly sales record, posting sales of 39,332 units, up 8 percent and eclipsing the previous quarterly record of 37,684 units set during the fourth quarter of 2005. Global sales of the Chrysler 300 surpassed 300,000 units in March 2006, posting sales of 329,991 units.
"The Chrysler brand is leading the way for Chrysler Group's car strategy," said Dilts. "The LX platform is up 38 percent in March, Chrysler 300 is up 8 percent for the quarter to record levels and has sold over 300,000 units globally. The company's car strategy is hitting on all cylinders."
The Jeep brand posted sales of 43,560 for the month, an increase of 8 percent over March 2005 sales of 40,491. Jeep Wrangler posted sales of 8,180 units, an increase of 21 percent over March 2005 sales of 6,748 units. Jeep Commander posted sales of 7,977 units, surpassing last month's sales total of 7,091 units. Jeep Commander recently received the government's highest five-star rating for frontal-impact crash protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Quarterly sales for the Jeep brand increased 9 percent to 112,951 units. First quarter 2005 sales were 103,712 units. Jeep Wrangler posted first quarter sales of 17,683 units, an increase of 13 percent over previous year sales of 15,689 units.
"We finished the first quarter with strong momentum, led by the Dodge Caliber, which is getting great reception from dealers and customers," said Dilts. "Most economic indicators are showing a strengthening of the economy and consumers are displaying a desire to purchase new cars and trucks. We are in the right position as we continue our launch of ten all-new products this year."
Chrysler Group finished the month with 606,734 units of inventory, or a 76-day supply.
Chrysler Group Reports March 2006 U.S. Sales Rise 2 Percent; First Quarter Sales Increase 3 Percent
-Strong Retail Sales of Dodge Caliber, Jeep® Commander and Dodge Ram Lift Total Company Performance in March
-Dodge Ram Monthly Sales Improve 9 Percent
-Jeep Wrangler Sets New Monthly Sales Record; Sales Rise 21 Percent Year-Over-Year
-Dodge Caliber Sales Increase 316 Percent over February Sales as Dealers Continue to Receive Shipments
-Dodge Sprinter Sales Rise 49 Percent Over Last Year and Establish a New Monthly Sales Record
-Chrysler Brand Sets New Quarterly Sales Record
Auburn Hills, Mich., Apr 3, 2006 -
Led by strong retail performance and driven by new products such as the Dodge Caliber and Jeep® Commander, Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales for March 2006 of 216,412 units, an increase of 2 percent over March 2005 sales of 212,978. Quarterly sales for the Chrysler Group totaled 562,244 units, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2005 first quarter sales of 546,732 units. All sales are being reported as unadjusted since the number of selling days is equal to last year.
"Strong sales of key products like the Dodge Ram pickup, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Commander and Chrysler 300 drove us to outperform the industry in March and the quarter," said Gary Dilts, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President — Sales. "The Dodge Caliber and the success of our LX platform pushed the company's car business up 13 percent, making the Chrysler Group a stronger player in the car market."
Monthly sales for the Dodge brand rose 1 percent to 113,719 units, compared to March 2005 sales of 112,105. Sales of the Dodge Ram improved 9 percent to 38,709 units. Sales totaled 35,531 last year. The all-new Dodge Caliber posted sales of 6,541 units and established its popularity by remaining on dealer's lots an average of 10 days. Sales of the Dodge Sprinter rose 49 percent to a monthly record 2,060 units as the company continues to make significant progress in the commercial vehicle market. March 2005 Dodge Sprinter sales totaled 1,384 units.
Dodge brand quarterly sales of 286,405 units were nearly even with year ago sales of 287,258 units. For the quarter, the industry-leading Dodge Caravan with the exclusive Stow 'n Go seating system posted quarterly sales of 58,624 units, a 2 percent increase over 2005 first quarter sales of 57,665 units.
Chrysler brand first quarter sales totaled a record 162,888 units, an increase of 5 percent over the previous record first quarter 2005 sales of 155,762 units. For the month, Chrysler brand sales declined 2 percent. Chrysler 300 established an all-time quarterly sales record, posting sales of 39,332 units, up 8 percent and eclipsing the previous quarterly record of 37,684 units set during the fourth quarter of 2005. Global sales of the Chrysler 300 surpassed 300,000 units in March 2006, posting sales of 329,991 units.
"The Chrysler brand is leading the way for Chrysler Group's car strategy," said Dilts. "The LX platform is up 38 percent in March, Chrysler 300 is up 8 percent for the quarter to record levels and has sold over 300,000 units globally. The company's car strategy is hitting on all cylinders."
The Jeep brand posted sales of 43,560 for the month, an increase of 8 percent over March 2005 sales of 40,491. Jeep Wrangler posted sales of 8,180 units, an increase of 21 percent over March 2005 sales of 6,748 units. Jeep Commander posted sales of 7,977 units, surpassing last month's sales total of 7,091 units. Jeep Commander recently received the government's highest five-star rating for frontal-impact crash protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Quarterly sales for the Jeep brand increased 9 percent to 112,951 units. First quarter 2005 sales were 103,712 units. Jeep Wrangler posted first quarter sales of 17,683 units, an increase of 13 percent over previous year sales of 15,689 units.
"We finished the first quarter with strong momentum, led by the Dodge Caliber, which is getting great reception from dealers and customers," said Dilts. "Most economic indicators are showing a strengthening of the economy and consumers are displaying a desire to purchase new cars and trucks. We are in the right position as we continue our launch of ten all-new products this year."
Chrysler Group finished the month with 606,734 units of inventory, or a 76-day supply.