Fiat 500 launched with 500 reported sold. April Fool’s maybe?
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - April 1, 2011
2011 Dodge Charger R/T – $25,170 to start and only 21 mpgUS combined… It takes on the comp and wins!
Chrysler earlier today reported U.S. sales of 121,730, a 31.4 percent increase compared with sales in March 2010 (92,623 units). This was the best March since 2008, and the highest sales for any month since May 2008.
Both Chrysler Group car and truck sales posted year-over-year sales gains in March. Chrysler Group car sales increased 46 percent, the best month for car sales since May 2008.
The Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat brands all contributed to the increase in car sales.
Sales of the new 2011 Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, star of the Chrysler brand’s Super Bowl commercial, increased 191 percent in March, compared with sales in the previous month of February, as the 200’s celebrity and significant improvements translate into sales. Remember this is the vehicle in which Scott Burgess of the Detroit News gave a scathing review and resigned over the fact that his employer rewrote portions of his edition after pressure from an advertiser.
The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger performance car led the surge in March car sales for the Dodge brand which for the first time outsold both Ford’s Mustang and Chevrolet’s Camaro by 429 and 22 units respectively!
Chrysler Group in March began selling the new 2012 Fiat 500, representing the first Fiat vehicles to be sold in the U.S. since 1984. They also reported sales of 500 units which sounds like an omen? An omen of what remains to be seen
Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand and Lead Executive for U.S. Sales:
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“Our pickups and sport-utilities have been strong performers in the market, and now we are seeing our cars gaining momentum in the marketplace as well. Chrysler Group’s retail sales during the first quarter of this year were up 51 percent compared with the same period in 2010. We showcased our all-new and significantly-refreshed 2011 models during our Premiere Event in March. Now we launch our Minivan Month and Jeep 70th Anniversary activities as we continue to build on our sales momentum.”
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Ram Trucks
This one is even more interesting. Even with gas prices breaching $4.00 in many parts of the country, Chrysler Group’s truck sales continued to post year-over-year sales gains. And trust me, the latest Ram pickups offer nothing on the fuel efficiency front.
The Ram Truck brand unveiled its new Transit Connect fighter in the form of the 2012 Ram Cargo Van in March. The Ram Cargo Van – or Ram C/V – is engineered to meet small business and commercial needs. The Ram C/V provides a Class 1 commercial vehicle-leading 1,800-lb. cargo payload and category-exclusive towing capability, up to 3,600 lbs. A 20-gallon fuel tank and 25 mpg highway also deliver best-in-class fuel range with its highway rating matching the Transit Connect mpg to mpg. Surprisingly good for a Ram product actually.
The Ram Truck brand also announced in March that its 2012 Ram 4500 and 5500 medium-duty (Class 4 and 5) Chassis Cab commercial trucks will be available with an optional 30,000-lb. gross combined weight rating (GCWR), an increase from 26,000 lbs. Expect Ford and GM to follow suit as they certainly have the Super Diesels to do so.
Dodge
The Dodge brand posted a
49 percent sales increase in March, the largest percentage increase of the Chrysler Group brands. All Dodge models in production posted year-over-year percentage sales gains. The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango three-row sport-utility posted a 61 percent increase compared with the previous month of February as the new SUV continues to gain sales momentum. Durango is the winner of MotorWeek’s 2011 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Large Utility.
The new 2011 Dodge Avenger posted a 92 percent increase, compared with March 2010, the largest percentage increase of any Dodge vehicle. The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger performance car posted a triple-digit percentage sales increase over the previous month of February. Sales of the new 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, the brand’s volume leader, increased 23 percent in March.
March 2011 Sales Highlights- Chrysler Group car sales (33,643 units) increased 46 percent compared with the same month a year ago (23,055 units)
- Chrysler Group truck and SUV sales (88,087 units) improved 27 percent versus March 2010 (69,568 units)
- Dodge brand sales (44,102 units) increased 49 percent versus the same month last year (29,506 units)
- Dodge Charger sales (8,986 units) increased 44 percent compared with March 2010 (6,220 units) outselling both Ford’s Mustang and Chevrolet’s Camaro. A close battle but a first and well deserved.
- Dodge Grand Caravan sales (9,560 units) increased 23 percent versus March 2010 (7,749 units).
- Sales of the new 2011 Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan (6,750 units) were up 191 percent versus sales in February 2011 (2,319 units).
- Jeep brand sales (33,155 units) increased 36 percent compared with the same month last year (24,393 units).
- Jeep Grand Cherokee sales (9,836 units) improved 64 percent versus March last year (5,986 units).
- Jeep Wrangler sales (8,807 units) increased 5 percent compared with March 2010 (8,410 units).
- Ram Truck brand sales (23,510 units) increased 24 percent compared with the same month last year (18,944 units).
- Ram pickup truck sales (21,898 units) improved 23 percent versus March 2010 (17,818 units).
Chrysler Group finished the month with a 67-day supply of inventory (301,936 units). U.S. industry sales figures for March are projected at an estimated 13.3 SAAR.
I can bet Ralph Gilles is happy as a lark now that the Charger is the new “King of the Mountain”! Now if they can only produce the same renaissance with improved fuel economy across the entire lineup, they may actually have something.
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