Chrysler Dec. sales off 4%

[xcel]

Devastating 36% drop for all of 2009.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Jan. 5, 2010

Jeep Wrangler sales were only down 4% in December.

I removed over 5 paragraphs of fluff-spin to get to the sobering reality...

Chrysler Group reported total U.S. sales for December of 86,523 units. Sales declined 4 percent year-over-year. The company finished the year with 931,402 units sold, a decline of 36 percent compared with 2008.

This is Chryslers worst sales performance in almost half a century!

Overall industry figures for November are projected to come in at an estimated 11.3 million SAAR.

One fluff piece left in for good measure

“As we kick off the new year, Chrysler Group continues to build momentum with some of the best products in the marketplace, and we are enthusiastic about the new products coming this year” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer–Ram Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our great Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram products are being recognized by opinion leaders in the industry, and consumers are responding in a positive way. In 2010 the company will continue to earn the trust of consumers with exciting, high-quality vehicles that are priced right.”

Unfortunately I see nothing great about 0 Crossfire’s, 736 PT Crusier’s, 32 Aspen’s, 0 Pacifica’s, 913 Compass’, 1,634 Commanders, 44 Vipers, 0 Magnum’s, 1,208 Nitro’s, 29 Durango’s, 618 Dakota’s and 346 Sprinters sold?

[Chuck]

Did you know that 2009 was the worst year Chrysler has had since 1962?

Less than a million sold.

They can't afford a repeat.

[ALS]

The real problem that is pretty much fatal is they have almost nothing new in the pipeline to bring customers into their showrooms.

[echoman]

Originally Posted by ALS

The real problem that is pretty much fatal is they have almost nothing new in the pipeline to bring customers into their showrooms.

I agree completely. They really have no idea how to look down the road and see whats coming. They are very much a Im here now, who cares about tomorrow.

[MaxxMPG]

From what I remember in the plan Chrysler submitted to Congress during the loan hearings, there wasn't much going on other than a new Grand Cherokee with a new V6 base engine, and facelifts for the full size RWD barges. I think the smaller cars are going to stagger on with minor updates until they're replaced later on by Fiat models.

If they think North American buyers no longer remember the Fiats of the 1970s and 1980s, consider how well buyers still remember other cars of that era - GM's diesels and X-cars, Ford's variable venturi carburetors and Taurus head gaskets and transaxles, and Chrysler's Lean Burn and early Ultradrives. With a Fiat badge glued to the trunk, selling them may be difficult no matter how good they are today.

[chilimac02]

Originally Posted by xcel

“As we kick off the new year, Chrysler Group continues to build momentum with some of the best products in the marketplace, and we are enthusiastic...

So they're enthusiastic about the DOWNWARD MOMENTUM that they have? Oh, maybe enthusiastic about how fast they will be out of a job? Or maybe enthusiastic about the opportunity to get out of a dead end job with a gov't sponsored severance package?

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by chilimac02

So they're enthusiastic about the DOWNWARD MOMENTUM that they have?....

The signature song of AC/DC comes to mind.

[Blackbelt]

It really is a shame, and it doesn't seem to be getting better any time soon.
I am probably more sympathetic to Chrysler than most here at CleanMPG. I own one now, have owned a bunch in the past, have a close family member who work for a dealer, and have had great experiences with my past(and current) Chrysler products. When i buy a new Chrysler, i get it for under invoice plus rebates plus employee discount, which ends up a pretty low price.

That said, i would have a hard time buying anything they offer right now. The thing that sold me on my caliber, AWD, is no longer offered. I suppose i could live with a Patriot, but not for $20K plus, which is what they cost with AWD. Otherwise, they have nothing that i find appealing, and i WANT to be able to buy something from them.

When we decided to get rid of our Wrangler, i looked at what we needed and wanted Vs what was available from Chrysler. There was nothing there. Nothing.

Grand Cherokee..Too big thirsty and expensive
Liberty...Too thirsty and expensive
Compass...Too expensive and too ugly
Commander...You have got to be kidding
Patriot...Too expensive
Wrangler...thats what i was getting rid of
300....see grand cherokee
Sebring....Too expensive and too ugly
town and country...a minivan???
I would have considered the PT cruiser, which i like, except for 2 factors. One, they only had 2 available, both silver automatics(i dont like silver, and wanted a stick), and two, their resale sucks so bad i would never buy one brand new for $14-15K when i can get a 2 year old one for under $8K

So we got a Suzuki SX4
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26818
I would love to be able to buy a Fiat 500 from my brothers dealership, it would make both of us happy. I am just wondering if they are going to survive to be able to do that.