July 2006 Sales: Chrysler Group

[VenSeattle]

Chrysler Group Reports July 2006 U.S. Sales

* Sales of Chrysler 300 rise 4 percent over July 2005 results

* Dodge Charger sales increase 53 percent over July 2005 results

* July retail sales increase 9 percent month-over-month versus June 2006

* Jeep Compass sales finish July at a brisk pace

* Employee Pricing Plus program continues through August 31, 2006

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler Group

reported U.S. sales for July of 150,349 units, a decline of 35 percent

compared to the record July sales of 240,146 units. All sales are reported

on an adjusted basis unless otherwise reported.

"This month is a tough comparison against last July when our Employee

Pricing Plus program delivered the strongest July in company history," said

Steven Landry, Vice President - Sales and Field Operations, Chrysler Group.

"However, in the face of higher interest rates and higher energy costs, the

launch of our current Employee Pricing Plus program helped drive showroom

traffic and grow our monthly retail sales 9 percent."

The Chrysler 300 posted a solid month of sales with 10,637 units sold

during July 2006, an increase of 4 percent over previous year sales of

10,596 units. Chrysler brand vehicles posted sales of 38,124 units, a

decline of 35 percent compared to record July 2005 sales of 61,193 units.

Sales of Jeep® brand vehicles declined 34 percent to 35,831 units.

Previous year sales totaled 56,280 units. The Jeep Compass posted brisk

sales of 707 units despite a late July availability. Vehicles are still

arriving at dealerships nationwide, and response to the vehicle from

customers and dealers has been positive.

The Dodge Charger continues to be a strong market performer with sales

of 8,074, an increase of 53 percent over July 2005 sales of 5,495 units.

Sales of Dodge brand vehicles totaled 76,394 units, a decline of 35 percent

compared to previous year sales of 122,673. Dodge Sprinter sales totaled

1,880 units, a 5 percent increase over July 2005 sales.

The Chrysler Group announces that the Employee Pricing Plus program

will continue through August 31, 2006. With Employee Pricing Plus,

customers receive employee pricing on virtually all 2006 model year

vehicles, plus zero percent financing for 36 months (or cash back), plus

the 30-Day Return Program, allowing customers to return a vehicle for any

reason within 30 days after purchase.

"Consumers are wrestling with higher interest rates and other increased

household costs on a monthly basis," said Michael Manley, Vice President -

Sales Strategy and Dealer Operations, Chrysler Group. "We have decided to

continue the Employee Pricing Plus program with employee pricing, zero

percent financing and a 30-day return program through the end of August in

an effort to address their concerns and drive dealership traffic and

sales."

The Chrysler Group product offensive continues with the imminent

arrival of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Jeep Wrangler in the next

few weeks, along with the Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Nitro

following this fall.

Chrysler Group finished the month with 560,210 units of inventory, or a

93-day supply and a decrease of 87,485 units from the end of June 2006.

DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary Thru July 2006

                                             Month Sales      DR %    Vol %
                    Model                 Curr Yr    Pr Yr    Change  Change
    Sebring                                  1,205     4,569    -73%    -74%
    Concorde                                     0         0      0%      0%
    300                                     10,637    10,596      4%      0%
    Crossfire                                  233     1,364    -82%    -83%
    PT Cruiser                               9,734    13,077    -23%    -26%
    Pacifica                                 4,759     9,932    -50%    -52%
    Town & Country                          11,556    21,655    -45%    -47%
      CHRYSLER BRAND                        38,124    61,193    -35%    -38%

                                              Sales CYTD       DR %    Vol %
                    Model                 Curr Yr    Pr Yr    Change  Change
    Sebring                                 43,874    56,574    -22%    -22%
    Concorde                                     0       210   -100%   -100%
    300                                     83,772    84,167      0%      0%
    Crossfire                                5,454     9,014    -39%    -39%
    PT Cruiser                              79,887    78,625      2%      2%
    Pacifica                                47,227    54,694    -13%    -14%
    Town & Country                         100,443   122,293    -17%    -18%
      CHRYSLER BRAND                       360,657   405,577    -11%    -11%



                                              Month Sales      DR %    Vol %
                    Model                 Curr Yr    Pr Yr    Change  Change
    Compass                                    707         0      0%      0%
    Wrangler                                 7,935    11,704    -29%    -32%
    Liberty                                  9,702    20,245    -50%    -52%
    Grand Cherokee                          10,124    24,331    -57%    -58%
    Commander                                7,363         0      0%      0%
    JEEP BRAND                              35,831    56,280    -34%    -36%

                                              Sales CYTD       DR %    Vol %
                    Model                 Curr Yr    Pr Yr    Change  Change
    Compass                                    707         0      0%      0%
    Wrangler                                43,200    52,155    -17%    -17%
    Liberty                                 79,808   103,229    -22%    -23%
    Grand Cherokee                          82,995   131,865    -37%    -37%
    Commander                               47,037         0      0%      0%
    JEEP BRAND                             253,747   287,249    -11%    -12%



                                              Month Sales      DR %    Vol %
                    Model                 Curr Yr    Pr Yr    Change  Change
    Neon                                       361    10,049    -96%    -96%
    Caliber                                  7,187         0      0%      0%
    Stratus                                    630     4,112    -84%    -85%
    Intrepid                                               0     N/A     N/A
    Charger                                  8,074     5,495     53%     47%
    Viper                                      138       104     38%     33%
    Magnum                                   1,718     4,203    -57%    -59%
    Dakota                                   7,468    13,567    -43%    -45%
    Ram P/U                                 32,793    48,710    -30%    -33%
    Caravan                                 12,804    23,969    -44%    -47%
    Durango                                  3,341    10,524    -67%    -68%
    Ram Van/Wagon                                0        76   -100%   -100%
    Sprinter Van                             1,880     1,864      5%      1%
    DODGE BRAND                             76,394   122,673    -35%    -38%

                                                Sales CYTD       DR %    Vol %
                    Model                   Curr Yr    Pr Yr    Change  Change
    Neon                                      16,742     75,996   -78%   -78%
    Caliber                                   50,881          0     0%     0%
    Stratus                                   49,194     64,302   -23%   -23%
    Intrepid                                       0        298  -100%  -100%
    Charger                                   67,079     11,690   477%   474%
    Viper                                        881        897    -1%    -2%
    Magnum                                    23,731     35,210   -32%   -33%
    Dakota                                    47,965     69,116   -30%   -31%
    Ram P/U                                  215,967    244,629   -11%   -12%
    Caravan                                  138,617    150,239    -7%    -8%
    Durango                                   42,212     72,671   -42%   -42%
    Ram Van/Wagon                                  0        402  -100%  -100%
    Sprinter Van                              12,222      9,755    26%    25%
    DODGE BRAND                              665,491    735,205    -9%    -9%



    TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP                     150,349    240,146   -35%   -37%

              TOTAL CG CAR                    29,268     38,272   -20%   -24%
              TOTAL CG TRUCK                 121,081    201,874   -38%   -40%
    Selling Days                                  26         26

    TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP                   1,279,895  1,428,031   -10%   -10%

              TOTAL CG CAR                   325,795    316,797     3%     3%
              TOTAL CG TRUCK                 954,100  1,111,234   -14%   -14%

    Selling Days                                 177        178

Link: http://prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?A...04408081&EDATE=

[VenSeattle]

For all those out there who are delusional to think the 300 & 300C are still selling at a premium:

Yep... that quoted $34,730 base price is the Chrysler 300C... with employee pricing, you too can own one for $31,713!

Many still want to SCREAM FLEET on GM vehicles... I wonder how many of the Chargers & 300s went to Fleet?

[Newbiewar]

For all those out there who are delusional to think the 300 & 300C are still selling at a premium:

Yep... that quoted $34,730 base price is the Chrysler 300C... with employee pricing, you too can own one for $31,713!

Many still want to SCREAM FLEET on GM vehicles... I wonder how many of the Chargers & 300s went to Fleet?  

174710[/snapback]

i know we've got 3 or 4 300C's on our lot and they are all 2.7 L previous rentals...

[Achelous]

Ouch. Last year's employee pricing may have hurt them in the year over year comparison, but take a look at the Durango. Down 67% and only 3300 sold. That's brutal!

[Matt276]

Caliber is back down to 7K units compared to 13K units last month.

What happened to the PT? The HHR sold 14K.

Really bad for Chrysler, and I don't see a hot product coming in the next months. Aspen, sebring...

[Drew Dowdell]

can't blame last year's employee pricing this time.....

there is employee pricing now!

[Newbiewar]

Ouch. Last year's employee pricing may have hurt them in the year over year comparison, but take a look at the Durango. Down 67% and only 3300 sold. That's brutal!

174807[/snapback]

lol... the durango sold about as much as longo Toyota did in the past month or so...

haha, thats remarkable that 1 dealership can sell so many cars...

[Chicagoland]

The Aspen will flop too. The true full sized Tahoe gets better mpg than the Durango, and they are stuck with it for a while, no replacements in sight.

The 300 has cooled off, not th savior it was proclaimed. Not every buyer is 'dying for a RWD V8 car' as some think.

[Intrepidation]

The Aspen will flop too. The true full sized Tahoe gets better mpg than the Durango, and they are stuck with it for a while, no replacements in sight.

The 300 has cooled off, not th savior it was proclaimed. Not every buyer is 'dying for a RWD V8 car' as some think.

175101[/snapback]

Model Curr Yr Pr Yr

300 10,637 10,596

Sales are up this month

300 83,772 84,167

And only slightly down so far compared tolast year's total. That's not much of a "cool off"

Still, some models did pathetically, like the Durango, Sebring, Pacifica, and GC. Hopefully the new Sebring and Avenger will help. The refreshed Pacifica will help the brand too. Dunno about the Durango...probably will just keep loosing money.

[I hope GMRULES again]

Ouch. Last year's employee pricing may have hurt them in the year over year comparison, but take a look at the Durango. Down 67% and only 3300 sold. That's brutal!

174807[/snapback]

Who the hell wants a truck that gets 12-13mpg? These guys are in big troulbe now too. I don't think they have a vehicle that competes in a category on MPG.

[Newbiewar]

The Aspen will flop too. The true full sized Tahoe gets better mpg than the Durango, and they are stuck with it for a while, no replacements in sight.

The 300 has cooled off, not th savior it was proclaimed. Not every buyer is 'dying for a RWD V8 car' as some think.

175101[/snapback]

like lutz said.. he would not have approved the 300... and everyone made fun of him for that... but i think he might have a point...

Model                Curr Yr    Pr Yr

                300                  10,637    10,596 

Sales are up this month

300                                    83,772    84,167

And only slightly down so far compared tolast year's total. That's not much of a "cool off"

Still, some models did pathetically, like the Durango, Sebring, Pacifica, and GC. Hopefully the new Sebring and Avenger will help. The refreshed Pacifica will help the brand too. Dunno about the Durango...probably will just keep loosing money.

175106[/snapback]

but if you look at the dealerships.... they arent selling them like hot cakes any more... production has cought demand... and in short time, inventory will demand incentives...

the dealerships around here have plenty of 300s... and the demand isnt going to go up without something radically different... price only steals future consumers...

[VenSeattle]

Model                 Curr Yr    Pr Yr

                 300                   10,637    10,596 

Sales are up this month

300                                     83,772    84,167

And only slightly down so far compared tolast year's total. That's not much of a "cool off"

Still, some models did pathetically, like the Durango, Sebring, Pacifica, and GC. Hopefully the new Sebring and Avenger will help. The refreshed Pacifica will help the brand too. Dunno about the Durango...probably will just keep loosing money.

175106[/snapback]

On top of Newbiewar's comments, consider that the 300 did not have Employee Pricing last year... it does now. An insignificant 4% increase with a $3k discount announces, without any doubt, pent up demand for the 300 is gone.

In addition, 300's fleet sales in 2005 were over 20% by mid year (page 4)... where do you think they are now?

[Flybrian]

Am I the only one who doesn't see the Durango making it out of this SUV depression alive?

[CARBIZ]

I've never seen the point of the Durango, other than to keep the Dodge dealers happy. The Jeep Gr. Cherokee is a much better, more refined SUV. The Durango's real world fuel numbers are outrageously bad. The Liberty suffers the same fate, too.

I think that entire "mid-size" truck-based SUV category (Trailblazer, Explorer, Durango, Pathfinder, etc) is going to get killed in the upcoming months. People with money and who actually need a truck will go upmarket to the Tahoe, etc. and the rest of the people will get an Equinox, Freestyle, etc. to satisfy their truck needs.

[Newbiewar]

  I think that entire "mid-size" truck-based SUV category (Trailblazer, Explorer, Durango, Pathfinder, etc) is going to get killed in the upcoming months.  People with money and who actually need a truck will go upmarket to the Tahoe, etc. and the rest of the people will get an Equinox, Freestyle, etc. to satisfy their truck needs.

175373[/snapback]

you mean, Outlooks, Enclaves, Acadias?