Chrysler October 2009 Sales Down 32%

[FenwickHockey65]

Chrysler Group LLC Reports October 2009 U.S. Sales Increase Compared with September 2009
Link to article

November 3, 2009

Chrysler Group LLC Reports October 2009 U.S. Sales Increase Compared with September 2009
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ --

-- Sales increase 6 percent compared with September 2009
-- Dodge Avenger posts year-over-year increase in sales of 13 percent
-- Dodge Grand Caravan sales increase 8 percent compared with the same time
period last year
-- Chrysler Brand, led by the Chrysler Sebring, saw total sales increase 42
percent versus September 2009

-- Six out of nine Dodge cars post total sales increases versus September
2009

Chrysler Group LLC today reported a 6 percent increase in total U.S. sales compared with September 2009. Chrysler and Dodge brands reported month-over-month increases.

Chrysler Group reported total U.S. sales for October of 65,803 units, an increase of 6 percent compared with September and a decrease of 30 percent compared with the same time period in 2008. The company finished the month with 159,428 units in inventory, representing a 68-day supply. Inventory is down 60 percent versus October 2008 when it totaled 395,996 units. Overall industry figures for October are projected to come in at an estimated 10.4 million SAAR.

"The industry showed signs of improvement this month with increasing sales, which is a trend we expect to continue for the remainder of the year," said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer-Ram Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization, Chrysler Group LLC. "Chrysler Group expects to get its fair share of the increases as November and December traditionally are two of the best months for SUV sales, and the Jeep® brand offers customers the best SUVs in the marketplace."

October Brand U.S. Sales Highlights

-- Dodge Car Brand sales (26,265 units) increased 24 percent compared with
September 2009
-- Six out of nine Dodge Car Brand vehicles posted sales increases
compared with the previous month: Dodge Avenger, up 48 percent;
Dodge Challenger, up 35 percent; Dodge Viper, up 47 percent; Dodge
Journey, up 23 percent, Dodge Nitro up 26 percent and Dodge Grand
Caravan, up 119 percent
-- Dodge Avenger and Dodge Grand Caravan post year-over-year sales
increases of 13 percent and 8 percent respectively
-- Chrysler Brand vehicles post a 42 percent increase (12,815 units)
compared with September 2009
-- Chrysler Sebring sales (2,219 units) increased 75 percent versus
September 2009
-- Chrysler Sebring Convertible sales increased 77 percent versus the
previous month
-- Ram Truck Brand saw Dodge Dakota sales increase 29 percent versus
September
-- Production of the all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup has begun, and
trucks will start arriving in U.S. dealerships just in time for the
holidays
-- Three Jeep Brand vehicles saw retail sales increases in October compared
with September 2009. The three vehicles are: Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot
and Jeep Commander
-- Mopar U.S. net sales were down 6 percent compared with September 2009,
reflecting challenging market conditions
-- In October, Mopar announced hundreds of new products, including:
live mobile TV with up to 20 channels and, for racing and off-road
enthusiasts, new crate engines, long blocks and aluminum HEMI®
engine blocks (December availability)

-- The brand also announced the opening of the Mopar eStore later this
month at www.mopar.com, where consumers will have the opportunity to
conveniently order parts and accessories online and have them
delivered directly to their doorstep by the nearest dealer

[Bravada]

This confirms indeed there is a Ram Truck Brand (this is a Chrysler press release). I take back all my words. Marchionne is officially insane.

[Buick61]

This is the first time, that I know of, that they've shown how it's going to work. That also reinforces the notion that the Nitro is dead.

[vanshmack]

The Chrysler ship is continuing to take on water and is listing badly.

Wasn't the new RAM supposed to be an impact player? Yet, it's down 32%. Is it up against it's own numbers (the new model) from last year?

[civilzues]

327 Compass, 1148 patriots and only 583 caliber's. Dosen't make the Cobalts 5000 units look so bad!

[mpsrent]

I'm not surprised by these numbers from a company that simply lacks product, product and product. You can't survive solely on minivans and pickup trucks.

[BigThreeForever]

Originally Posted by Bravada

This confirms indeed there is a Ram Truck Brand (this is a Chrysler press release). I take back all my words. Marchionne is officially insane.

I am in full agreement, Bravada. He is.

[JeffInDFW]

I agree, their product lineup is very poor. The scary thing is, there isn't anything coming either. First, the Germans stopped putting money into development, then when the Wall Street leeches (Cerberus) bought them, they didn't spend a CENT on development because they knew all along they were bleeding the company dry and dumping it. So, here we are. All new product is out with nothing in the pipeline.

On the other hand....My local Dodge dealership in Lewisville Texas sat for the last 2 1/2 MONTHS with not a single car on the lot. They had one row of large commercial vans, all white. Other than that, they had NOTHING. Two weeks ago, I saw 5-6 Jeep wranglers had arrived, and were in a row in front. They also got 2 Challengers recently. You can't sell what you don't have.

[Chaz_23]

What, they already killed the Caliber/ PT Cruiser?

[Barry Badrinath]

So everyone else feeds off the corpse of Chrysler for market share. Very sad. I don't see how Fiat even has the time to make a foothold. Very sad (for Chrysler) indeed.

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted by Barry Badrinath

So everyone else feeds off the corpse of Chrysler for market share. Very sad. I don't see how Fiat even has the time to make a foothold. Very sad (for Chrysler) indeed.

I agree that Fiat will have a tough time saving Chrysler. Chrysler is in such rough shape and needs new product faster than Fiat can deliver. Imagine how much worse off Chrysler would be if gas prices were still high considering their lineup. For Chryslers sake I hope they can pull this off.

I don't know if having a seperate Ram brand matters or not. I don't see an advantage however.

[Evo69]

I feel bad for Chrysler... really bad. Thanks to that nasty Daimler deal they have been bled dry of desirous products, Daimler Benz did a awesome job of industrial sabotage thats for sure.

I hope FIAT do Chrysler some justice and share some platforms with them. I just want Chrysler to be around to remind GM now and again that they should always be on the ball... especially when it comes to performance vehicles.

[stormwatcher]

Originally Posted by Barry Badrinath

So everyone else feeds off the corpse of Chrysler for market share. Very sad. I don't see how Fiat even has the time to make a foothold. Very sad (for Chrysler) indeed.

All the other manufacturers have a strong lineup and Chrysler doesn't, it's basically as simple as that.

[Slideways]

Originally Posted by vanshmack

Wasn't the new RAM supposed to be an impact player? Yet, it's down 32%. Is it up against it's own numbers (the new model) from last year?

The new Ram is leaps and bounds better than the last generation and I think they did gain market share with '09 model vehicles.

[Chaz_23]

Americans love a winner (Ford) and will be happy to stomp on the necks of the weak and dying.

Originally Posted by Barry Badrinath

So everyone else feeds off the corpse of Chrysler for market share. Very sad. I don't see how Fiat even has the time to make a foothold. Very sad (for Chrysler) indeed.