Jan. 2007 Sales: Chrysler Group

[Variance]

Jan. 2007 Sales: Chrysler Group

Auburn Hills, Mich., Feb 1, 2007 - Chrysler Group reported sales for January 2007 of 156,308 units; an increase of 1 percent compared to previously strong January 2006 sales of 155,465 units. All sales figures are reported unadjusted. January sales results were driven by solid retail sales, while fleet sales were down.

“With our January sales results, Chrysler Group is off to a very promising start in 2007,” said Steven Landry, Vice President – Sales and Field Operations, Chrysler Group. “Our numbers mark the best January in the last six years and were driven by sales of the all-new Jeep® Wrangler and the Jeep Commander. Chrysler Group’s latest addition to the Jeep line-up, the all-new Jeep Patriot, has been launched in late December and is now arriving in dealerships around the country.”

After a record of 10 new vehicle introductions in 2006, Chrysler Group will continue to bring fresh products to dealer showrooms with eight new models to be launched in 2007. In addition, with the Dodge Caliber (8,672 units sold in January), Jeep Compass (3,965 units), Chrysler Sebring (6,885 units), all-new Jeep Patriot and upcoming Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Group now has five new vehicles that achieve 30 miles per gallon or better in highway driving that it did not have just one year ago.

The Jeep brand rose 19 percent year-over-year, posting sales of 35,361 units. January 2006 sales were 29,773 units. Jeep Wrangler posted sales of 8,954 units, a rise of 134 percent over January 2006 sales of 3,830 units. Sales of the Jeep Commander increased 30 percent with 5,491 units compared to 4,209 units in January 2006.

The Dodge Ram pickup had a strong January showing with sales of 24,379 units, a year-over-year increase of 12 percent. In January 2006, the Dodge Ram pickup posted sales of 21,790 units.

Chrysler Group's minivans also had a strong January 2007. The Chrysler Town & Country posted sales of 11,377 units, up 20 percent compared to January 2006 with 9,447 units. Dodge Caravan sales increased by 14 percent year-over-year with sales of 18,593 units. January 2006 sales were 16,273 units.

“With a fresh product line-up in dealer showrooms and eight new vehicle launches to come in 2007, Chrysler Group is well positioned to remain competitive in the marketplace,” said Michael Manley, Vice President – Sales and Dealer Operations. “We will focus on providing innovation, quality and value to our customers – and we will also provide our dealers with competitive tools to sell these vehicles.”

Chrysler Group finished the month with 488,410 units of inventory, or a 78-day supply. Inventory is down by 9 percent compared to the year end in December 2006 when it was at 538,483 units.

DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary Thru January 2007

											   Month Sales	 DR %   Vol %
	Model								   Curr Yr	Pr Yr   Change  Change

	Sebring								  6,885	 9,501	-30%	-28%
	300									  8,587	12,746	-35%	-33%
	Crossfire								  317	   459	-34%	-31%
	PT Cruiser							   8,317	11,406	-30%	-27%
	Aspen									2,146		 0	  0%	  0%
	Pacifica								 3,857	 5,069	-27%	-24%
	Town & Country						  11,377	 9,447	 16%	 20%
	  CHRYSLER BRAND						41,486	48,628	-18%	-15%

	Compass								  3,965		 0	  0%	  0%
	Patriot									175		 0	  0%	  0%
	Wrangler								 8,954	 3,830	124%	134%
	Liberty								  7,141	 9,274	-26%	-23%
	Grand Cherokee						   9,635	12,460	-26%	-23%
	Commander								5,491	 4,209	 25%	 30%
	  JEEP BRAND							35,361	29,773	 14%	 19%

	Neon										 0	 3,347   -100%   -100%
	Caliber								  8,672		 0	  0%	  0%
	Stratus									271	10,141	-97%	-97%
	Avenger								  1,284		 0	  0%	  0%
	Charger								  7,440	 8,023	-11%	 -7%
	Viper									   44	   114	-63%	-61%
	Magnum								   2,309	 3,765	-41%	-39%
	Dakota								   3,816	 4,583	-20%	-17%
	Ram P/U								 24,379	21,790	  7%	 12%
	Caravan								 18,593	16,273	 10%	 14%
	Durango								  5,712	 7,668	-28%	-26%
	Nitro									6,191		 0	  0%	  0%
	Sprinter								   750	 1,360	-47%	-45%
	  DODGE BRAND						   79,461	77,064	 -1%	  3%

	  TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP				 156,308   155,465	 -3%	  1%

			  TOTAL CG CAR				  34,196	45,572	-28%	-25%
			  TOTAL CG TRUCK			   122,112   109,893	  7%	 11%
	Selling Days								25		24

[source: DaimlerChrysler]

[Intrepidation]

Wow, only the Town and Country posted gains for the Chrysler brand...Look a the Wrangler though, up 124%

[VenSeattle]

OUCH! And this was with some of the highest incentives in the country to boot!

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006...incentives.html

Chrysler is putting $500 million in Chrysler dealers' hands to use with any 2006 vehicle the dealer chooses.

The Chrysler deals provide dealers up to $7,000 per vehicle in "dealer cash" for certain 2006 models. Chyrsler hopes the sales promotion offered alongside a new round of rebates on 2007 models will help ease tensions between Chrysler and its dealers as well as dispose of unsold inventory.

Chrysler cut its inventory from 647,000 vehicles in July to 499,000 in November, but 2006 models still account for 32 percent of the total, about 214,000 unsold vehicles.

Chrysler can't apparently give their cars away.

[Flybrian]

Would someone like to tell me now what a great car the 300 is when its outsold by the Wrangler?

[Northstar]

Wow, this is perhaps worse than GM even though Chrysler was technically up. Aside from the fleet special PT and T&C, there's nothing that's up for Chrysler brand. Take away the sales from the new models and Chrysler is in a world of hurt.

[LastMercury]

Town&Country and Caravan should be up, GM and FoMoCo have abandoned that segment.

Anyone think Chrysler Group could be in better shape than Ford?

[Chicagoland]

Toyota, Honda, and Kia are cleaining up in minivans too.

GM and Ford have the 'not invented here' attitude with minsvans, and think SUV's are the answer. But, once families have 2 kids +, an expensive gas hogging SUV is less "cool", then a more fuel efficient, and easier to load kids into, minivan. When you have kids, "hipness" is a non issue.

[Satty]

The Wrangler is brand new and is finally starting to show up on lots in good numbers. The 4 door probably helps sales a ton.

[regfootball]

Would someone like to tell me now what a great car the 300 is when its outsold by the Wrangler?

it's a really great car, it is it is........

?

[Ravenfreak13]

Nitro seems to be selling well...I see them all the time.

[enzl]

Nitro seems to be selling well...I see them all the time.

It is at our CJD as well....I think it and the Wrangler 4 dr. are cannabalizing Liberty sales, however.

[A Horse With No Name]

It is at our CJD as well....I think it and the Wrangler 4 dr. are cannabalizing Liberty sales, however.

The wrangler 4 dr is an amazing product. Not an SUV fan but I wouldn't mind owning one.

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

Wow, this is perhaps worse than GM even though Chrysler was technically up. Aside from the fleet special PT and T&C, there's nothing that's up for Chrysler brand. Take away the sales from the new models and Chrysler is in a world of hurt.

Again, a huge part of the problem is the economy. It is still much weaker than people give it dredit for.

Chris