March 2008 Sales: Chrysler LLC

[VenSeattle]

Chrysler LLC March 2008 Sales Indicate Newest Models Have Strong Customer Appeal
April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/
Link to Press Release

- Total sales record set for fuel-efficient compact vehicle trio of Dodge
Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot
- New long-wheel base minivan models' individual sales continue to grow
- Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger increase Chrysler LLC year-to-date
market share in competitive Standard Mid-Size segment
- All-new Dodge Journey off to a great new start

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler LLC today
reported total March 2008 sales of 166,386 units which is 19 percent below
the same period last year. Total March sales reflect a combination of
positive consumer response to new models, a sustained and planned reduction
in daily- rental fleet vehicle sales and an industry-wide slowdown in large
pickup truck and SUV sales. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

"We are in a period where the public hears news about the economy every
day and it is clearly having an impact on our industry," said Vice Chairman
and President Jim Press. "At the same time, this market environment is
driving more customers to our newest value-oriented, fuel-efficient
products like Jeep Patriot, Dodge Journey, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler
Sebring. Chrysler's strategy to right-size our operations, increase fuel
efficiency and reduce daily rental fleet sales will help us get through
this period as a stronger company with healthier dealers."

Chrysler had solid customer interest for its combined compact vehicle
lineup of the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot. Combined, the three
vehicles reached 21,909 compact vehicle buyers in March, an increase of 51
percent from March 2007. All three models had increased sales in March to
set a new monthly sales record for the lineup.

New customer sales increased 18 percent for Chrysler's two new long
wheel base minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan.
Total Dodge Grand Caravan March sales were 14,101, an increase of 8 percent
over the same model in 2007. The Chrysler Town & Country long wheel base
model had strong March sales of 13,335 units, a year-over-year increase of
32 percent.

Chrysler's new mid-sized cars continue to grab marketshare with total
Chrysler Sebring Sedan/Sebring Convertible sales up 23 percent and Dodge
Avenger sales up 8 percent, for a 15 percent segment increase in March
2008. Another new vehicle, the Dodge Journey sold 2,640 units in its second
month of sales.

The Company finished the month with 423,607 units of inventory, or a
66- day supply. Inventory is down by 15 percent compared with March 2007
when it was at 499,771 units.

Customer Initiatives

Chrysler LLC recently launched a Customer Advisory Board, providing the
Company an opportunity to establish two-way dialogue with customers and
design the products they want and need.

In April, Chrysler will continue to offer special "New Day" vehicle
packages that combine our most popular features on a wide range of vehicles
at reduced prices.

Chrysler will continue to offer the most unique product lineup in the
industry, along with the most innovative products and the best Lifetime
Powertrain Warranty coverage in the market.

About Chrysler LLC

Chrysler LLC, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., produces Chrysler,
Jeep®, Dodge and Mopar® brand vehicles and products. Total sales
worldwide in 2007 were 2.68 million vehicles. Sales outside of North
America were the highest in a decade with an increase of 15 percent from
2006. The Company's product lineup features some of the world's most
recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge
Charger.

About Chrysler Customer Advisory Board

Registered journalist of the http://www.media.chrysler.com website can view
press release titled "Chrysler LLC First in Industry to Launch Innovative
Online Customer Advisory Board".

For photos of the record setting Jeep Patriot, go to
http://www.media.chrysler.com

Chrysler LLC U.S. Sales Summary Thru March 2008

                              Month Sales      Vol %     Sales CYTD      Vol %
               Model        Curr Yr   Pr Yr   Change  Curr Yr    Pr Yr  Change
    Sebring                  10,177   8,306    23%     30,411   20,935    45%
    300                       7,995  11,376   -30%     24,952   30,376   -18%
    Crossfire                   190     678   -72%        462    2,281   -80%
    PT Cruiser                5,305   8,531   -38%     15,604   25,333   -38%
    Aspen                     2,668   2,896    -8%      8,117    7,244    12%
    Pacifica                    866   6,438   -87%      2,693   16,432   -84%
    Town & Country*          13,338  13,649    -2%     34,381   36,871    -7%
      CHRYSLER BRAND         40,539  51,874   -22%    116,620  139,472   -16%

    Compass                   4,836   3,802    27%     10,400   11,838   -12%
    Patriot                   7,564   2,109   259%     17,248    2,928   489%
    Wrangler                  8,589  13,397   -36%     21,814   31,591   -31%
    Liberty                   7,366   9,634   -24%     23,047   24,363    -5%
    Grand Cherokee            8,172  10,398   -21%     23,163   30,856   -25%
    Commander                 3,414   5,995   -43%      9,648   16,896   -43%
      JEEP BRAND             39,941  45,335   -12%    105,320  118,472   -11%

    Caliber                   9,509   8,634    10%     31,331   27,206    15%
    Avenger                   9,755   9,026     8%     25,246   15,515    63%
    Charger                   9,296  12,707   -27%     27,018   30,923   -13%
    Viper                       109      54   102%        272      153    78%
    Magnum                    1,150   2,983   -61%      5,354    8,425   -36%
    Dakota                    4,074   6,411   -36%      8,767   15,399   -43%
    Ram P/U                  26,318  38,301   -31%     68,862   91,313   -25%
    Journey                   2,640       0     0%      3,382        0     0%
    Caravan*                 14,104  17,921   -21%     33,271   52,889   -37%
    Durango                   2,691   4,362   -38%      9,258   14,590   -37%
    Nitro                     4,981   7,532   -34%     15,355   19,697   -22%
    Sprinter                  1,279     876    46%      3,815    2,253    69%
      DODGE BRAND            85,906 109,226   -21%    231,931  279,305   -17%

      TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC    166,386 206,435   -19%    453,871  537,249   -16%

              TOTAL CAR      48,339  55,608   -13%    145,601  139,511     4%
              TOTAL TRUCK   118,047 150,827   -22%    308,270  397,738   -22%
    Selling Days                 26      28                76       77
    * Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan sales comparison
include eliminated 2007 model year short wheel base vehicles.

[Intrepidation]

Chrysler is retarded, they should have made a compact sedan instead of 2 Jeeps. Considering how well the Caliber, a hatchback, sells, image how well a sedan would sell?

[Chicagoland]

The overrated 300 series is tanking, shows what a fad it was. Also, lots of used 2005-07's on the market of LX cars, stealing sales for new ones.

[Drew Dowdell]

It's just old. It needs an MCE.

[Intrepidation]

It's just old. It needs an MCE.

Exactly, they didn't do enough with the "refresh" of the current one. Chrysler should definitely consider a hybrid powertrain when they are redesigned.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Dodgefan

[buyacargetacheck]

Good idea but keep both Jeeps - it's obvious Jeep buyers appreciate the mpg compared to the 4 other hogs they sell. A Caliber sedan seems so obvious that you have to wonder what's holding them back (maybe available capital?). It's like low-hanging fruit. Shed about 500 pounds off the hatchback, tweak the gearing a bit and you have a low-cost, high mpg alternative to the Focus and Corolla (which has a porked out a bit itself). I'm guessing Belvidere has plenty of capacity to make it happen.

Chrysler is retarded, they should have made a compact sedan instead of 2 Jeeps. Considering how well the Caliber, a hatchback, sells, image how well a sedan would sell?

[A Horse With No Name]

Compass and patriot sales are way up, probably due to high gas prices and the fact that people love SUV's. While these are the vehicles I just love to hate they really aren't that bad. I stopped into a Chrysler dealer to llok at a Patriot and was actually mildly impressed.

Chris

[ltdaniels]

i think this could get better for chrysler, with the challenger breaking out and the journey getting good reviews. the journey looks like it's solid enough to succeed, with its appealing to SUV-drivers who need minivan space.

[Ravenfreak13]

Yea go Avenger! WOOT WOOT!

[The O.C.]

The overrated 300 series is tanking, shows what a fad it was. Also, lots of used 2005-07's on the market of LX cars, stealing sales for new ones.

Well, interesting to see Chrysler sold more 300s in March than Buick did LaCrosse AND Lucerne combined......

[VenSeattle]

Well, interesting to see Chrysler sold more 300s in March than Buick did LaCrosse AND Lucerne combined......

Leave Buick out of this tit-for-tat. Buick doesn't fleet anywhere near as bad as Chrysler does.

[The O.C.]

Leave Buick out of this tit-for-tat. Buick doesn't fleet anywhere near as bad as Chrysler does.

Numbers are numbers.

300 sells more cars than LaCrosse and Lucerne combined.

Care to compare fleet numbers for the three models? I don't think you'd want to......sorry.....

[VenSeattle]

Numbers are numbers.

300 sells more cars than LaCrosse and Lucerne combined.

Care to compare fleet numbers for the three models? I don't think you'd want to......sorry.....

Numbers are numbers as long as they suit your point... if it were reversed you'd be the first to point out fleet and dismiss sales immediately. Any opinion on Impala sales?

There have been numerous topics in the past that point out Chrysler Fleets heavily... more so than Buick.

Here's one discussing the first 6 months of 2007...

Here's one elaboratingon the same topic

Even though we know both manufacturers are attempting to decrease fleet sales, we don't have current stats.

Buick:

LaCrosse: 3,080 – 29% fleet – 2187 retail

Lucerne: 4,699 – 13% fleet – 4088 retail

Total estimated retail: 4088 retail

Chrysler:

300: 7,995 – 44% - 4477 retail

Chrysler comes out ahead, but that wasn't my point. Chrysler fleets far more than Buick, deluting the brand and tarnishing its image.

The significance of the two are different as well. The 300 is the top of the line sedan available at Chrysler LLC. That's not the case for Buick sedans at GM. What else is there if the 300 is a fleet queen?

LaCrosse will be replaced in a matter of months and Lucerne is on life support until the new sedans come out. However, GM isn't whoring Buick out in the mean time like Hyundai and Chrysler. The ship may sail when the 300 dies.

[The O.C.]

Numbers are numbers as long as they suit your point... if it were reversed you'd be the first to point out fleet and dismiss sales immediately. Any opinion on Impala sales?

There have been numerous topics in the past that point out Chrysler Fleets heavily... more so than Buick.

Here's one discussing the first 6 months of 2007...

Here's one elaboratingon the same topic

Even though we know both manufacturers are attempting to decrease fleet sales, we don't have current stats.

Buick:

LaCrosse: 3,080 – 29% fleet – 2187 retail

Lucerne: 4,699 – 13% fleet – 4088 retail

Total estimated retail: 4088 retail

Chrysler:

300: 7,995 – 44% - 4477 retail

Chrysler comes out ahead, but that wasn't my point. Chrysler fleets far more than Buick, deluting the brand and tarnishing its image.

The significance of the two are different as well. The 300 is the top of the line sedan available at Chrysler LLC. That's not the case for Buick sedans at GM. What else is there if the 300 is a fleet queen?

LaCrosse will be replaced in a matter of months and Lucerne is on life support until the new sedans come out. However, GM isn't whoring Buick out in the mean time like Hyundai and Chrysler. The ship may sail when the 300 dies.

I admitted I didn't have current fleet numbers.

I was responding to a generalized statement that "....the 300 is faltering badly....." based upon the sales numbers reported in this thread. I was simply pointing out these sales numbers compared to Buick, a close competitior (theoretically.)

Same could be said for Buick....."faltering badly."

[VenSeattle]

Hmmm...

Care to compare fleet numbers for the three models? I don't think you'd want to......sorry.....

I admitted I didn't have current fleet numbers.

But I did want to compare them...

My point is Chrysler and Buick can not be compared to each other, at least not at the moment. So many people on Cheers&Gears want to rush in on a topic that's discussing a non-GM company or brand and say the now cliché phrase "Sure it's bad at 'company X' but it's just as bad or worse at GM."

That's just not the case at GM or at Buick when discussing Chrysler's situation, sales, or tactics.

Same could be said for Buick....."faltering badly."

How is Buick "faltering" badly? Buick's Average buyer's age has dropped into the 50's. Sales totals? Buick is no longer a volume brand like Chrysler currently is. Buick is a niche brand with success not based on volume but on image and transaction price. Besides, Buick has three vehicles compared to 5/6 last year.

The Enclave is performing fantastically.

The LaCrosse will be replaced in months.

The weakest link is the Lucerne which is performing well against its direct competitor Avalon, while wiping the floor with the wonderful two-punch Hyundai Azera and Kia Amanti. Dropping the 'CXS' and adding 'Super' and the 'CXL SE' should help increase sales of Lucerne in 2008/2009.

Mentioning sales expectations, the new Invicta (LaCrosse replacement) will have an annual sales target between 65,000 & 75,000. This is lower than the Lucerne or LaCrosse's expectations when they originally debuted. GM just isn't pushing Buick for volume.

Another factor is that China's success is allowing Buick to drop sales and reduce sales incentives while it continues to transition back into the near/mid-luxury market. Where is Chrysler's backup and international support? North America is pretty much all that Chrysler has until they're sold again.

How about just addressing Chrysler for Chrysler instead of deflecting a legitimate comment at Chrysler towards GM.

[The O.C.]

Hmmm...

But I did want to compare them...

My point is Chrysler and Buick can not be compared to each other, at least not at the moment. So many people on Cheers&Gears want to rush in on a topic that's discussing a non-GM company or brand and say the now cliché phrase "Sure it's bad at 'company X' but it's just as bad or worse at GM."

That's just not the case at GM or at Buick when discussing Chrysler's situation, sales, or tactics.

How is Buick "faltering" badly? Buick's Average buyer's age has dropped into the 50's. Sales totals? Buick is no longer a volume brand like Chrysler currently is. Buick is a niche brand with success not based on volume but on image and transaction price. Besides, Buick has three vehicles compared to 5/6 last year.

The Enclave is performing fantastically.

The LaCrosse will be replaced in months.

The weakest link is the Lucerne which is performing well against its direct competitor Avalon, while wiping the floor with the wonderful two-punch Hyundai Azera and Kia Amanti. Dropping the 'CXS' and adding 'Super' and the 'CXL SE' should help increase sales of Lucerne in 2008/2009.

Mentioning sales expectations, the new Invicta (LaCrosse replacement) will have an annual sales target between 65,000 & 75,000. This is lower than the Lucerne or LaCrosse's expectations when they originally debuted. GM just isn't pushing Buick for volume.

Another factor is that China's success is allowing Buick to drop sales and reduce sales incentives while it continues to transition back into the near/mid-luxury market. Where is Chrysler's backup and international support? North America is pretty much all that Chrysler has until they're sold again.

How about just addressing Chrysler for Chrysler instead of deflecting a legitimate comment at Chrysler towards GM.

Lordy......I'm not the one that made the generic comment about the 300......I was trying to make a point that the same generic comment could be made about Buick....(or someone else.)

* Enclave SEEMS to be performing well.....you are right. However........

* I have no confindence in the new LaCrosse/Invicta....UNTIL I see the finished product.....I'm to see how it turns out before considering it a "success."

* In my mind, there is no way a Lucerne should be pitted against a Toyota, Hyundai, or Kia. Buick is supposed to be a "premium" brand. Lucerne should be fighting the battle at a far-higher level than what it is today. Neither Toyota, nor Hyundai, nor Kia are considered a premium brand.

Chrysler has acutally achieved some moderate success and praise in Europe with the 300. And I don't think anyone can argue that the 300 has garnered a level of respect in this country that Buick wishes they could enjoy. Lucerne is priced right on top of the 300.....(even less in some cases)......

Now....Chryslers big failing was not following up the 300 with an equally-as-successful Sebring, Sebring Convertible, or anything else......

[Toyota.vs.GM]

* Enclave IS to be performing well

Fixed.