Chrysler October 2012 Sales up 10.2%

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Jeep and RAM Pickups bring home the sales bacon with the 500 continuing to sell well.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 2, 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 autocross course a daily necessity…

The “small but wicked” phrase coined for Karl Abarth’s cars in the 1960s is alive and well in the Fiat 500 Abarth.

With its all-new 1.4L 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 earlier this year, 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 October Sales Results

Chrysler reported U.S. sales of 126,185 units, a 10.2 percent increase compared with sales in October 2011 (114,512 units), and the group’s best October sales since 2007.

The Chrysler, Dodge, Ram Truck and FIAT brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in October compared with the same month a year ago. The FIAT brand’s 89 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand for the month. October marked Chrysler Group’s 31st-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

The Dodge Avenger and Journey plus the Jeep Wrangler and Patriot all set sales records for the month of October.

Chrysler’s minivans each posted double-digit percentage sales increases in October. The Dodge Grand Caravan’s 49 percent sales gain represented the largest percentage increase of any Dodge brand model while sales of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan were up 31 percent in October. The Ram 1500 pickup truck also experienced sizeable sales gains during the month.

U.S. industry sales figures for October are projected at an estimated 14.7 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).

October 2012 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand

Fiat 500 set a sales record for the month of October. It was the eighth-consecutive month in which the Fiat 500 has set a sales record.

Dodge sales were up 20 percent in October, the brand’s best October in five years and its 17th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Dodge brand sales of 40,611 units represented the largest sales volume of any Chrysler Group brand in October.

Ram Truck sales were up 17 percent in October compared with the same month a year ago. Ram pickup truck extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 30-consecutive months. Sales of the Ram pickup truck were up 20 percent in October compared with the same month a year ago. It was the pickup truck’s best October sales performance in six years. The Heavy Duty Ram trucks led the way, up 26 percent, while sales of the Light Duty Ram trucks increased 17 percent.

Chrysler extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 16-consecutive months in October. Chrysler brand sales were up 5 percent, the brand’s best October sales in five years

Jeep models including both the Wrangler and Patriot sales were up 14 and 18 percent respectively. Both were October sales records.

Ford Oct 2012 Highlights and Overall Sales

Model	Oct-12	Oct-11	Oct-DSR % change	Oct-12 YTD	Oct-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
500	3,720	1,965	+89.3%	36,462	15,826	+129.5%
Dart	5,455	--	--	14,709	--	--
Ram P/U	25,222	21,037	+19.9%	238,815	199,010	+19.5%
Chrysler Totals	126,185	114,512	+10.2%	1,376,855	1,123,923	+22.0%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 26 days for both Oct 2012 and Oct 2011. Year-to-date,
the DSR is calculated with 256 days for all of 2012 and 255 for all of 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

Top 10 - Oct 2012 US Automobile Sales Leaders

Sales Rank	Make	Model	Oct-12	Oct-11	Oct-DSR % change	Oct-12 YTD	Oct-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
1	Ford	F-Series	56,497	52,511	+7.6%	520,230	468,899	+10.5%
2	Chevrolet	Silverado	38,739	36,656	+5.7%	336,939	333,092	+0.8%
3	Toyota	Camry	29,926	22,043	+35.8%	344,714	251,564	+36.5%
4	Honda	Accord	28,349	22,589	+25.5%	276,196	203,603	+35.1%
5	Ram	P/U	25,222	21,037	+19.9%	238,815	199,010	+19.5%
6	Nissan	Altima	24,623	21,838	+12.8%	258,663	222,392	+15.9%
7	Toyota	Corolla	20,949	16,244	+29.0%	243,652	203,135	+19.5%
8	Honda	Civic	20,687	16,173	+27.9%	254,716	183,557	+38.2%
9	Honda	CR-V	20,205	19,326	+4.5%	233,586	180,361	+29.0%
10	Ford	Escape	19,832	19,046	+4.1%	219,907	206,896	+5.9%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 26 days for both Oct 2012 and Oct 2011. Year-to-date,
the DSR is calculated with 256 days for all of 2012 and 255 for all of 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

Top 10 sales rank notes: No surprise that the top 5 remained the same as last month. Altima, Civic, CR-V and Escape pushed the Cruze out of the top 10. Civic rejoined the top 10 in October and wound up at #8 on the list. Civic and CR-V pushed the Escape back to #10. Corolla moved to #7 from the #9 spot last month.

B-Segment Sales Rank

1. Nissan Versa - 8,311
2. Chevrolet Sonic - 5,495
3. Ford Fiesta - 3,991
4. Honda Fit - 3,773
5. Fiat 500 - 3,720
6. Hyundai Accent - 3,373
7. Toyota Yaris - 2,579
8. Kia Rio - 2,005
9. Mazda2 - 1,124

C-Segment Sales Rank

1. Toyota Corolla - 20,949
2. Honda Civic - 20,687
3. Chevrolet Cruze - 19,121
4. Ford Focus - 18,320
5. Hyundai Elantra - 14,512
6. VW Jetta - 13,476
7. Mazda3 - 9,518
8. Kia Forte - 5,911
9. Nissan Sentra - 5,624
10. Dodge Dart - 5,455

D-Segment Sales Rank

1. Toyota Camry - 29,926
2. Honda Accord - 28,349
3. Nissan Altima - 24,623
4. Hyundai Sonata - 16,773
5. Kia Optima - 12,948
6. Ford Fusion - 12,690
7. Chevrolet Malibu - 9,629
8. Chrysler 200 - 8,758
9. VW Passat - 8,355

Segment ranking items of note:

In the B-Segment, the Fiesta climbed from 6th to 3rd, Fit fell back a spot to 4th, Accent fell from 4th to 6th with the Yaris and Rio swapping positions near the bottom.

The C-Segment ranks saw the aging Corolla once again retake the sales lead while the Cruze fell to 3rd behind the Civic. The brand new Sentra fell one spot and from my understanding it was more of a supply issue with the new model. It is a better car than many above it.

The D-Segment ranks saw no changes from last month.

Automobile Manufacturer's US Sales Rank – Oct 2012 vs. Oct 2011 Comparison and Total Sales

1. GM Oct Sales up 4.7% with 195,764 vehicles sold.
   
2. Ford Oct Sales up 0.4% with 168,456 vehicles sold.
   
3. Toyota Oct Sales up 15.8% with 155,242 vehicles sold.
   
4. Chrysler Oct Sales up 10.2% with 126,185 vehicles sold.
   
5. Honda Oct Sales up 8.8% with 106,973 vehicles sold.
   
6. Nissan Oct Sales down 3.2% with 79,685 vehicles sold.
   
7. Hyundai Oct Sales down 4.1% with 50,271 vehicles sold.
   
8. Kia Oct Sales up 12.6% with 42,452 vehicles sold.
   
9. VW Oct Sales up 22.4% with 34,311 vehicles sold.
   
10. BMW Oct Sales up 18.5% with 32,339 vehicles sold.
    
11. MB Oct Sales up 9.0% with 26,642 vehicles sold.
    
12. Subaru Oct Sales up 30.1% with 26,119 vehicles sold.
    
13. Mazda Oct Sales up 1.6% with 18,622 vehicles sold.
    
14. Audi Oct Sales up 14.5% with 11,708 vehicles sold.

Manufacturer's US Sales Rank items of note: BMW and MB passed up Subaru in October otherwise the rankings remained steady.

Through the first nine months of 2012, the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) is running at approximately 14.7 million.