August 2, 200619 yr 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=
August 2, 200619 yr Author 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?
August 2, 200619 yr 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...
August 2, 200619 yr 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!
August 2, 200619 yr 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...
August 2, 200619 yr can't blame last year's employee pricing this time..... there is employee pricing now!
August 2, 200619 yr 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...
August 2, 200619 yr 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.
August 2, 200619 yr 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.
August 3, 200619 yr 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.
August 3, 200619 yr 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...
August 3, 200619 yr Author 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?
August 3, 200619 yr Am I the only one who doesn't see the Durango making it out of this SUV depression alive?
August 3, 200619 yr 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.
August 6, 200619 yr 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?
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.