Chrysler Group December 2011 U.S. Sales Up 37%; Year +26%

Chrysler Group today reported U.S. sales of 138,019 in December, a 37% increase compared with sales in December 2010 (100,702 units). It was Chrysler Group’s best monthly sales since May 2008 and the onset of the Great Recession.  December was also the 21st-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and seventh-consecutive month of sales increases of at least 20%.

For the full year of 2011, Chrysler Group sales totaled 1.37 million units, up 26% versus sales in 2010. The Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands each posted sales gains during 2011 compared with sales in 2010. However, with annual truck sales of more than 800,000, compared to fewer than 285,000 cars during 2011, Chrysler remains heavily dependent on, Jeeps, pickup trucks and minivans.

Nevertheless, the sales gains were not large enough to hold off resurging Toyota Motor Sales, which displaced Chrysler from the Number Three U.S. sales spot when Toyota inventories rebuilt this fall after the Japan earthquake and tsunami tragedy in March that removed Toyota and other Japanese automakers from the market. In October and November Toyota picked up 2 market share percentage points, with December results due later today.

“Chrysler Group finished a year of growth on a strong note with our December retail sales soaring 45% to our highest dealer retail sales in four years,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of US Sales. “Looking back, we were the fastest-growing automaker in the country, increasing our market share 1.3% percentage points during 2011.”

The group’s 37% December increase was driven in part by improved sales of the Chrysler 300 sedan, Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, Dodge Charger and Avenger sport sedans, Ram pickup trucks, and of course the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and Compass models.

The Chrysler brand’s 83% increase on an admittedly small base, was the largest percentage sales gain of all the Chrysler Group brands and represents its best monthly sales since August 2008. The Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands each lposte3d double-digit percentage sales gains in December, while the FIAT brand posted a 44% increase compared with the previous month of November due to subsidized, no money down  $199/month leases on the small 500 model.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 64-day supply of inventory (326,087 units). U.S. industry sales figures for December are projected at an estimated 14 million SAAR, which if true means a slow recovery continues.