Chrysler Group July 2013 U.S. Sales up 11%

Dodge exited the compact car segment when then owner Daimler killed the unlamented Neon in 2005. Dart sales ytd are 51,000 in one of the hottest segments in the U.S. car market – OK but not great. Part of the problem is an overly complicated lineup. Then there are strongly entrenched Japanese cars.

It was the best July in seven years as Chrysler Group today reported U.S. sales of 140,102 units, an 11% increase compared with sales in July 2012 of 126,089 units. Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck and Fiat brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in July compared with the same month a year ago. Chrysler Group extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 40-consecutive months in July

However, the company remains heavily dependent on the recovery of pickup truck sales with the Ram Truck brand’s 31% increase to 33,314 easily the largest sales gain of any Group brand in July.

“We continue to see strong retail sales, particularly with our pickup trucks and SUVs, and that has helped to propel Chrysler Group to our 40th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales, who is pictured in the Dart photo. (Read AutoInformed on Dodge Dart Debuts Using First Fiat Architecture. More on Way)

The Ram Truck brand sales gain was the result of a 31% increase in Ram pickup truck sales as Cargo Van sales are insignificant. Dodge brand sales were up 18% in July, largely due to an 88% increase in Dodge Durango full-size SUV sales. Jeep brand sales were up 2% as all Jeep brand models in production recorded year-over-year sales gains in July.

The company is not delivering the new Cherokee, which has been in full production for two months in Toledo because of unspecified calibration problems with its new ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. Fiat brand sales were up 2% in July compared with the same month a year ago.

Six Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records in the month of July. Three Dodge brand vehicles – the Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Dart compact sedan – each recorded their best sales for the month of July. The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Compass also registered their best sales for the month of July. Sales of the flagship Jeep Grand Cherokee were up 30%, its best July sales since 2005. The all-new fully electric Fiat 500e, which went on sale in California in July

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 66-day supply of inventory at 371,889 units. U.S. industry sales figures for July are projected at an estimated 15.8 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).