Chrysler April Sales up a Strong 20.4% In Sales Day Shortened Month

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This is one hit parade that is not about to stop.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 1, 2012

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth – $22,000 to start, 160 HP in a 2,500 pound platform and loaded with enough track prepped features to make an autocrosser cry. It is that good.

The “small but wicked” phrase coined for Karl Abarth’s cars in the 1960s, proved spectacularly correct in the first ever Touring Car-B class races in the Pirelli World Challenge held this past weekend. A specially-prepared Fiat 500 took two consecutive Touring Car-B race wins at the 2.2-mile Miller Motorsports Park West Course configuration Tooele, Utah.

The Fiat 500 Abarth arrives with the racing traditions that have made it a success on European roadways and racetracks including far beyond expectations performance in both a straight line and curves. And it does so with typical Italian style and high power-to-weight ratios.

With its all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine, Abarth-tuned suspension and brake systems, race-inspired design, and technology, the new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth unleashes the brand’s legendary performance heritage to American streets.

After driving one of the track inspired and prepped Abarth 500’s for a few laps around a small autocross course in the Chicago suburbs, it is scary how fast you can drive this little monster on a closed course. And when you are done with that craziness, you can drive the160 HP fire breather home in a much more mundane manner while achieving well beyond its diminutive 28/34 mpgUS city/highway rating

Chrysler Sales Results

Chrysler this morning reported U.S. sales of 141,165 units, a 20.4 percent increase compared with sales in April 2011 (117,225 units), and the group’s best sales in the month of April since 2008.

All five of Chrysler’s brands posted gains in April compared with the same month a year ago with the company recording its 25th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and its 11th-straight month of sales increases of at least 20 percent.

Many of the Chrysler Groups models broke all-time sales records in the month including the Fiat 500, Chrysler 200, Dodge Challenger and Jeep Wrangler SUV, and Dodge Avenger.

Statements made by Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales seemed a bit off?

“This business is all about product quality and fuel efficiency of our current vehicle line-up.”

Given the present day realities, today Chrysler sells on marketing, not fuel efficiency or quality. Tomorrow is a far different story however.

In April the Fiat 500 and the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan each turned in triple-digit percentage increases, while the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger mid-size sedans each posted year-over-year increases in the double digits. The Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee weighed in with the largest sales gains of the Jeep brand, while the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans each recorded double-digit increases. The Ram pickup truck continues to exhibit its sales strength with a 19 percent increase in April.

Chrysler finished the month with a 59-days supply of inventory (344,453 units). U.S. industry sales figures for April are projected at an estimated 14.6 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).

April 2012 U.S. Sales Highlights

FIAT sales were up 336 percent in April compared with the same month a year ago with combined sales of the Fiat 500, Fiat 500 Cabrio and Fiat 500 Abarth set a new sales record for any month.

Chrysler sales were up 56 percent in April, the brand’s best April sales since 2007. Sales of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan were up 138 percent, the model’s best sales month since March 2008.

The Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan set an April sales record with its solid 61 percent increase versus the same month in 2011.

Jeep sales increased 19 percent in April compared with the same month in 2011, the brand’s best April in five years and its 24th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Wrangler, the brand’s volume leader for the month, set a sales record with a 35 percent sales gain. The Grand Cherokee, the most rewarded SUV ever, had its best April in seven years.

Ram pickup truck sales were up 19 percent in April versus the same month a year ago. It was the pickup truck’s 24th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and its best April since 2008. Both Ram light- and heavy-duty pickup trucks posted sales increases in April. Of the Ram light-duty truck sales, those with crew cabs posted the largest percentage increase.

And remember we still have the 2013 Ram 1500 with a possible 24 mpgUS highway rating thanks to the Pentastar V6, eight-speed automatic transmission, stop-start system, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including grille shutters and air suspension.

Dodge sales were up 2 percent in April, the brand’s best April sales since 2008 and its 11th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth.

All told, you have to admire this comeback kid and with a wealth of new product that is both desirable and in one segment in particular (pickup trucks), may actually lead its competitors in both fuel economy and features.

Chrysler April 2012 Highlights and Overall Sales

Model	Apr-12	Apr-11	Apr-DSR % change	Apr-12 YTD	Apr-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
500	3,849	882	+390%	12,699	1,382	+827%
RAM	21,505	19,260	+25.6%	91,000	76,084	+20.8%
Chrysler Totals	141,165	117,225	+35.5%	539,216	404,175	+34.7%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 24 selling days in April of 2012 and 27 selling days during April of 2011.
Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 101 days for 2012 and 102 days for 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

Top 10 – April 2012 US Automobile Sales Leaders

Sales Rank	Make	Model	Apr-12	Apr-11	Apr-DSR % change	Apr-12 YTD	Apr-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
1	Ford	F-Series	47,453	45,435	+17.5%	191,280	172,062	+12.3%
2	Toyota	Camry	36,820	30,443	+36.1%	142,225	107,264	+33.9%
3	Honda	Accord	35,385	28,180	+41.3%	96,517	94,375	+3.3%
4	Chevrolet	Silverado	30,749	29,342	+17.9%	126,387	121,797	+4.8%
5	Toyota	Corolla	24,804	24,215	+15.2%	93,232	100,890	-6.7%
6	Honda	Civic	24,423	26,777	+2.6%	101,592	91,745	+11.8%
7	Honda	CR-V	23,627	21,683	+22.6%	98,214	79,116	+25.4%
8	Chevrolet	Malibu	21,906	24,701	-0.2%	80,456	73,446	+10.6%
9	Ford	Fusion	21,610	21,189	+14.7%	85,559	86,212	+0.2%
10	Hyundai	Sonata	20,521	21,738	+6.2%	75,716	73,616	+3.9%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 24 selling days in April of 2012 and 27 selling days during April of 2011.
Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 101 days for 2012 and 102 days for 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.
Prius sales combined reached 25,168 but within the sales breakout, none were in the top 10.

Top 10 Sales Leaders - Items of note: Camry and a fast charging Accord are neck and neck. Corolla and Civic both jumped 3 places. CR-V and Fusion fell 3 places. Malibu with tons of cash on the hood climbs back into the top 10 and Sonata edges out RAM to take the final spot.

B-Segment Sales Rank

1. Nissan Versa - 8,335
2. Chevrolet Sonic - 6,387
3. Hyundai Accent - 6,160
4. Ford Fiesta - 5,135
5. Toyota Yaris - 4,274
6. Kia Rio - 4,006
7. Honda Fit - 3,202
8. Mazda 2 - 1,048

C-Segment Sales Rank

1. Toyota Corolla - 24,804
2. Honda Civic - 24,423
3. Ford Focus - 19,425
4. Chevrolet Cruze - 18,205
5. Hyundai Elantra - 16,836
6. VW Jetta - 15,658
7. Mazda3 - 8,508
8. Nissan Sentra - 7,410

D-Segment Sales Rank

1. Toyota Camry - 36,820
2. Honda Accord - 35,385
3. Chevrolet Malibu - 21,906
4. Ford Fusion - 21,610
5. Hyundai Sonata - 20,521
6. Nissan Altima - 16,239
7. Kia Optima - 11,021
8. Chrysler 200 - 13,343
9. VW Passat - 10,096

April segment ranking items of note: Versa still leads the B-Segment with Sonic and Accent closing. Yaris passed the Fit and Rio while Rio outsold the Fit.

In the C-Segment, the ancient Corolla took hold of the lead with the much maligned Civic grabbing second place. Focus fell from first to third yet still outsold the Cruze.

The Camry leads everyone in the car segment and we mean all segments with the Accord jumping way up to second place with Malibu, Fusion and Sonata battling for third, fourth and fifth.

Automobile Manufacturer's US Sales Rank - April 2012 vs. April 2011 Comparison and Total Sales

1. GM April Sales down 8.2% with 213,387 vehicles sold.
2. Ford April Sales down 5.0% with 180,350 vehicles sold.
3. Toyota April Sales up11.6% with 178,044 vehicles sold.
4. Chrysler April Sales up 20.4% with 141,165 vehicles sold.
5. Honda April Sales down 2.2% with 122,012 vehicles sold.
6. Nissan April Sales down 0.3% with 71,329 vehicles sold.
7. Hyundai April Sales up 0.8% with 62,264 vehicles sold.
8. Kia April Sales up 1.0% with 47,550 vehicles sold.
9. VW April Sales up 31.5% with 37,525 vehicles sold.
10. BMW April Sales up 6.1% with 26,793 vehicles sold.
11. Subaru April Sales up 6.3% with 26,310 vehicles sold.
12. Mercedes-Benz April Sales up with 22,336 vehicles sold.
13. Mazda April Sales up 4.2% with 21,506 vehicles sold.
14. Audi April Sales up 15.0% with 11,521 vehicles sold.

March manufacturer sales rank items of note: Toyota just misses topping Ford, Nissan falls well behind Honda and Hyundai/Kia combined, Mercedes-Benz tops Mazda and BMW outsells Subaru.

SAAR is running at approximately 14.5 Million units.