December 2008 Sales: Chrysler LLC

[VenSeattle]

Chrysler LLC Reports December 2008 U.S. Sales

Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/

Link to Press Release

- All Jeep® brand vehicles achieved sales growth over November 2008

- Chrysler Town and Country sales increased nine percent and Dodge Grand Caravan sales grew 14 percent compared to November 2008

- Dodge Ram light duty pickup sales rose ten percent versus November 2008

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler LLC today reported total December 2008 U.S. sales of 89,813 units, up five percent versus November 2008 (85,260 units), and down 53 percent from the same month in 2007. For the year, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge U.S. sales decreased 30 percent (1,453,122 units) compared to total 2007 sales (2,076,650 units). Total sales were significantly affected by the industry's largest reductions in fleet sales, 63 percent for December and 31 percent for the year.

"Last year Chrysler and all of our stakeholders persevered through extraordinarily difficult economic conditions, made the necessary adjustments and always kept our focus on serving our customers," said Jim Press, President and Vice Chairman, Chrysler LLC. "As a result, our Company and our dealer network start this year stronger and better positioned to succeed in today's marketplace."

"From a customer perspective, we see consumers selecting vehicles based on their long-term transportation needs and committing to keeping vehicles for longer periods. As a result, characteristics such as utility, flexibility, efficiency and quality will grow in importance. In terms of product focus, Chrysler will continue to invest in quality and fuel efficiency improvements on its current lineup, while developing all-new vehicles for the next generation. From an organizational viewpoint, we will work with all of our stakeholders to continue the restructuring our Company. We have a special bond with the American people now and pledge to continue our efforts to provide the best quality and best value in the marketplace. We are committed to help drive America forward."

December Sales Highlights

-- All Jeep brand vehicles achieved sales growth over November 2008 sales. Jeep Wrangler, the brand's top-selling model, marked sales growth of 15 percent (7,048 units) over November.

-- Sales of the Jeep Patriot were up six percent in December (2,597 units) compared to November 2008. Year-to-date, Patriot sales grew 38 percent to reach 55,654 units.

-- Minivan sales gained momentum over November. Chrysler Town and Country sales in December grew nine percent (8,152 units) and Dodge Grand Caravan sales increased 14 percent (6,927 units).

-- Dodge Ram light duty pickup sales were up 10 percent (10,601 units) compared to November 2008, fueled by the availability of the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram.

-- The Company finished the month with 397,569 units of inventory, or a 115-day supply. Inventory is down nine percent compared with December 2007, when it totaled 438,390 units.

January Incentives

Chrysler continues to offer customers highly competitive discount and financing programs to kick off 2009. In addition to offering discounts of up to $6,000 on 2008 MY vehicles and up to $3,000 on 2009 MY vehicles to all customers, the Company is also working with Chrysler Financial and additional financing companies around the country to create packages that offer customers a wide range of options for lease and purchase financing. On select 2008 models, 0% financing is available for 72 months, and rates as low as 1.9% APR are available on select 2009 models.

For the new year, Chrysler has entered into a partnership with Credit Unions across the nation to offer an additional $500 to $1,000 discount when any of the 90 million members of Credit Unions purchase or lease a new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle. This program was successfully piloted in December in 12 states.

              Chrysler LLC U.S. Sales Summary Thru December 2008

                                                  Month Sales           Vol %
                    Model                    Curr Yr       Pr Yr      Change
    Sebring                                    3,572        9,274       -61%
    300                                        3,707        9,950       -63%
    Crossfire                                    110          180       -39%
    PT Cruiser                                 1,823        9,738       -81%
    Aspen                                      1,515        3,022       -50%
    Pacifica                                     574        2,009       -71%
    Town & Country                             8,152       14,211       -43%
        CHRYSLER BRAND                        19,453       48,384       -60%
    Compass                                    1,225        3,295       -63%
    Patriot                                    2,597        4,987       -48%
    Wrangler                                   7,048        9,007       -22%
    Liberty                                    4,529        9,941       -54%
    Grand Cherokee                             5,504       11,753       -53%
    Commander                                  2,188        5,821       -62%
        JEEP BRAND                            23,091       44,804       -48%
    Caliber                                    2,896        8,851       -67%
    Avenger                                    2,050        8,146       -75%
    Charger                                    5,414       11,115       -51%
    Challenger                                 2,602            0         0%
    Viper                                        152           46       230%
    Magnum                                        31        2,278       -99%
    Dakota                                     1,701        2,873       -41%
    Ram P/U                                   16,618       32,118       -48%
    Journey                                    4,275          109      3822%
    Caravan                                    6,927       21,217       -67%
    Durango                                    1,435        2,480       -42%
    Nitro                                      2,036        7,350       -72%
    Sprinter                                   1,132        1,652       -31%
        DODGE BRAND                           47,269       98,235       -52%

        TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC                    89,813      191,423       -53%

              TOTAL CAR                       20,535       50,273       -59%
              TOTAL TRUCK                     69,278      141,150       -51%
    Selling Days                                  26           26

                                                  Sales CYTD            Vol %
                    Model                     Curr Yr       Pr Yr     Change
    Sebring                                    71,663       93,130      -23%
    300                                        62,352      120,636      -48%
    Crossfire                                   2,021        8,774      -77%
    PT Cruiser                                 50,910       99,585      -49%
    Aspen                                      22,254       28,788      -23%
    Pacifica                                    7,345       53,947      -86%
    Town & Country                            118,563      138,151      -14%
        CHRYSLER BRAND                        335,108      543,011      -38%
    Compass                                    25,349       39,491      -36%
    Patriot                                    55,654       40,434       38%
    Wrangler                                   84,615      119,243      -29%
    Liberty                                    66,911       92,105      -27%
    Grand Cherokee                             73,678      120,937      -39%
    Commander                                  27,694       63,027      -56%
        JEEP BRAND                            333,901      475,237      -30%
    Caliber                                    84,158      101,079      -17%
    Avenger                                    61,963       83,804      -26%
    Charger                                    97,367      119,289      -18%
    Challenger                                 17,423            0        0%
    Viper                                       1,172          435      169%
    Magnum                                      6,912       30,256      -77%
    Dakota                                     26,044       50,702      -49%
    Ram P/U                                   245,840      358,295      -31%
    Journey                                    47,097          109    43108%
    Caravan                                   123,749      176,041      -30%
    Durango                                    21,420       45,503      -53%
    Nitro                                      36,368       74,825      -51%
    Sprinter                                   14,600       16,586      -12%
        DODGE BRAND                           784,113    1,058,402      -26%

        TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC                  1,453,122    2,076,650      -30%

              TOTAL CAR                       406,125      569,859      -29%
              TOTAL TRUCK                   1,046,997    1,506,791      -31%
    Selling Days                                  308          307

[A Horse With No Name]

This is just ungodly brutal.

Now would be a really bad time to buy Chrysler stock if they were publicly traded.

Chris

[2QuickZ's]

It's too bad that they may not survive long enough to see their new products hit the market. From the few I've seen, they were going to be vast improvements over their current products.

Also, the new Ram is a really nice looking truck, inside and out. Appearance wise, I think I like the new Ram better than any other truck on the market, especially in the high end trim levels. I'm not a truck guy so I haven't driven any to compare. It's probably been 2 years since I've driven any full size trucks.

[!!!TED!!!]

Sebring -61%

Avenger -75%

Viper +230% !!!

We are committed to help drive America forward

...over a cliff

[regfootball]

i have seen more of the new vans and patriots. I think chrylser should still survive, but needs to downscale and partner up, I see no fault in a Nissan / Chrylser tie up. problem, nissan wouldn't even want that...LOL

[Intrepidation]

They just need to hang in their long enough for their new stuff to come to market. But yeah, this month was not pretty.

[G. David Felt]

Personally, I do not see any reason for Chrysler as a independant company to survive. Sell the Truck division to a company that wants to get into the full size market. Sell Jeep to GM and merge the technology of Hummer into Jeep. As much as I love the 300, Charger and Challanger, the rest of the products really could go away and would not be missed.

Over all the Auto Industry is over built and needs a solid consolidation.

[Intrepidation]

Personally, I do not see any reason for Chrysler as a independant company to survive. Sell the Truck division to a company that wants to get into the full size market. Sell Jeep to GM and merge the technology of Hummer into Jeep. As much as I love the 300, Charger and Challanger, the rest of the products really could go away and would not be missed.

Over all the Auto Industry is over built and needs a solid consolidation.

Well, as a Chrsy;er fan, I see plenty of reasons not to kill it.

GM won't buy Jeep, they're talking about killing the brands they have not acquiring more.

Chrysler hasn't had the time to fix the damage done by the Daimler ownership. The first product that has actually been overseen by Cerberus is the new Ram, and look how that turned out. Oh and the refreshed Compass/Patriot.

Edited January 6, 2009 by Dodgefan

[Satty]

Maybe Toyota can buy Dodge Trucks.

[Robert Hall]

Sebring -61%

Avenger -75%

Viper +230% !!!

We are committed to help drive America forward

...over a cliff

I think the Viper wierdness is because there was no 2007 model--went from '06 to '08. Their midsize rental cars are doing pretty awful with those drops, though. I hope Chrysler can make it, the new Ram looks very promising, and I'm looking forward to the next 300 and Charger and the next Grand Cherokee...

Edited January 6, 2009 by moltar

[Satty]

Even rental companies dont want any part of Chrysler. I dont blame them.

[Satty]

They just need to hang in their long enough for their new stuff to come to market. But yeah, this month was not pretty.

The same thing was said before the LX cars came out, and the new Avenger/Sebring and the new Ram.

[Intrepidation]

The same thing was said before the LX cars came out, and the new Avenger/Sebring and the new Ram.

Actually the LX cars did a lot of a good for the company. The Avenger/Sebring were huge disappointments, and the Ram debuted when gas was around $4 followed by an economic crisis.

[Satty]

A lot of good? Have you seen where Chrysler is now? That "good" didn't last long or trickle down to any of their other products.

[Intrepidation]

A lot of good? Have you seen where Chrysler is now? That "good" didn't last long or trickle down to any of their other products.

You can thank Daimler for that. For whatever reason they gave Chrysler the funding for the LX cars then cost cut the hell out of subsequent products. For at least a couple years Chrysler was doing well while Ford and GM were not.

If the products following the LX cars got the same funding and attention that they got, Chrysler would probably be in much better shape.

Again, the Ram is the first vehicle that Cerberus had more influence over the development. The results are as follows (from edmunds):

In sum, we think the 2009 Dodge Ram is a winner, even if the popularity of full-size trucks is waning. For those who'll still need the prodigious hauling and towing capabilities of these workhorse vehicles, the Ram is just as good as, if not better than, the current top dogs, the Chevy Silverado and Toyota Tundra. It's got all the usual bases covered, yet it doesn't "ride like a truck." Now that's what we call progress, particularly given the cutthroat competition in this segment.

So, assuming the same level of funding and attention has been given to the new LX cars and whatever else debuts, these vehicles should be much better than what Chrysler has now.

Edited January 6, 2009 by Dodgefan

[mustang84]

I think a lot of the problem is that fleet sales propped up Chrysler's numbers for a long time. Remember that both the Sebring / Avenger were doing around 50% fleet out of the gate. Chrysler is finally right-sizing its business, but it waited far too long to start.

[2QuickZ's]

Again, the Ram is the first vehicle that Cerberus had more influence over the development.

Actually, Cerberus came in so late they likely had minimal impact on the Ram. I think Daimler mostly stayed out of the Ram development.

I can tell you Cerberus and the new management delayed upcoming programs to "fix" what Daimler left them with. They seem to have the right idea on how to improve the product and have been willing to spend the money to do so. Now the question is will they last long enough to see those improved products hit the market?

Edited January 7, 2009 by 2QuickZ's

[Chicagoland]

"For at least a couple years Chrysler was doing well while Ford and GM were not."

No, it just SEEMED that way. They were hiding all the problems with smoke and mirrors from the 300 mania. Even if Damiler didn't buy them in 1998, they'd still be on the ropes. Their so called 'beautiful cars' from the 90s, LH, JX, and Neons were total junk, and drove customers away in long run. The Mopar fans like to blame DX, but the company long has been 3rd string. As far back as the early 50's Mopar was in trouble, and again in early 60s, late 70s, early 90s, on and on. It was a matter of time when the 'canary in coal mine' would finally die.

And the 09 F-150 is way better than the Ram. Mopar fans just want to be different than Ford vs. Chevy. But these days it isn't just 3 makers. So, just 'being different' isnt enough to survive. Have to have actual good products, and not just 'halo' cars. The muscle cars of the 60s/70s did nothing to keep Chrysler from near bankrupcy in 1970's, and the LX did nothing this century to help.

Edited January 7, 2009 by Chicagoland

[Intrepidation]

"For at least a couple years Chrysler was doing well while Ford and GM were not."

No, it just SEEMED that way. They were hiding all the problems with smoke and mirrors from the 300 mania. Even if Damiler didn't buy them in 1998, they'd still be on the ropes. Their so called 'beautiful cars' from the 90s, LH, JX, and Neons were total junk, and drove customers away in long run. The Mopar fans like to blame DX, but the company long has been 3rd string. As far back as the early 50's Mopar was in trouble, and again in early 60s, late 70s, early 90s, on and on. It was a matter of time when the 'canary in coal mine' would finally die.

And the 09 F-150 is way better than the Ram. Mopar fans just want to be different than Ford vs. Chevy. But these days it isn't just 3 makers. So, just 'being different' isnt enough to survive. Have to have actual good products, and not just 'halo' cars. The muscle cars of the 60s/70s did nothing to keep Chrysler from near bankrupcy in 1970's, and the LX did nothing this century to help.

I beg to differ about the LH's being total junk thank you very much, although I will give you the 2.7 engine that was used was junk. I'd also beg to differ abut the Neon. The first gen had rave reviews. However reliability was $h!, so I could give you the first gen Neons as being junk. The 2nd gen had good reviews as well, but was left to rot on the market like so many Detroit products.

How is the F-150 "way better" It's only "way better" better if you plan to use its max towing and payload capacity regularly, and for the factory trailer brake controller. The Ram rides better, has as nice or nicer of an interior, and makes more power. I think the F-150 is a great truck but it's not "way better".

Again, it's a wait and see thing, assuming they survive. The new GC debuts this year, so we'll see if it's a huge leap forward or not. If it's not then that will be a telling sign.

[MyerShift]

I beg to differ about the LH's being total junk thank you very much, although I will give you the 2.7 engine that was used was junk. I'd also beg to differ abut the Neon. The first gen had rave reviews. However reliability was $h!, so I could give you the first gen Neons as being junk. The 2nd gen had good reviews as well, but was left to rot on the market like so many Detroit products.

Again, it's a wait and see thing, assuming they survive. The new GC debuts this year, so we'll see if it's a huge leap forward or not. If it's not then that will be a telling sign.

THANK YOU!

[MyerShift]

I beg to differ about the LH's being total junk thank you very much, although I will give you the 2.7 engine that was used was junk. I'd also beg to differ abut the Neon. The first gen had rave reviews. However reliability was $h!, so I could give you the first gen Neons as being junk. The 2nd gen had good reviews as well, but was left to rot on the market like so many Detroit products.

Again, it's a wait and see thing, assuming they survive. The new GC debuts this year, so we'll see if it's a huge leap forward or not. If it's not then that will be a telling sign.

THANK YOU!

[Chicagoland]

Neons had the worst resale all its life, and the 2nd gens were awful. I never saw any good reviews of it, except maybe from Allpar.com, who thinks any Mo-dog is great. I rented one and it was like driving a Soviet Union or East German car.

Allpar can do all the cheer leading and make biased claims, but Chrysler is dying off, and they cant put full blame on Daimler. They were always the weakest of the Big 3, and this tought economy is finally killing it off. No way can Fiat save them.

[Intrepidation]

Neons had the worst resale all its life, and the 2nd gens were awful. I never saw any good reviews of it, except maybe from Allpar.com, who thinks any Mo-dog is great. I rented one and it was like driving a Soviet Union or East German car.

Allpar can do all the cheer leading and make biased claims, but Chrysler is dying off, and they cant put full blame on Daimler. They were always the weakest of the Big 3, and this tought economy is finally killing it off. No way can Fiat save them.

From edmunds:

Ups: Sublime steering, attractive interior and exterior design, excellent build quality.

Downs: Archaic transmission, excessive wind and road noise, lacking in feature content.

In `02 they added a four speed and features...dunno about the noise issue.

You claim allpar is bias...yet every post you seem to make relating to Chrysler is negative that I recall.

[MyerShift]

I've driven and ridden in both Neon generations.

The older ones were more fun and unpretentious, the newer ones more refined, grown up, and eventually, ugly.

[Intrepidation]

I've driven and ridden in both Neon generations.

The older ones were more fun and unpretentious, the newer ones more refined, grown up, and eventually, ugly.

I agree, I did not like the `03 front ends at al. However the SRT appearance package you could order late in the Neon's life gave it a nice looking front end again.

[Intrepidation]

If I were to get one it would be an `02 R/T or a later SXT with the SRT appearance package. That being said, I would skip both and go straight for the SRT4

[MyerShift]

If I were to get one it would be an `02 R/T or a later SXT with the SRT appearance package. That being said, I would skip both and go straight for the SRT4

Of course. Myself as well. The 2003 fascia was rather ugly, almost "cross-eyed Caravan" in a way but the SRT model did look quite sharp.

If I got one though, I think I'd get the wing clipped off the trunk, take off the SRT badges, and say, it's just your friendly neighbourhood Neon!