Press Release
Chrysler Announces Third Quarter Sales
10/03/96
Chrysler Posts Model-Year and 3rd-Quarter Records; September Sales Up 22 Percent AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 1 -- Chrysler Corporation's U.S. sales in September were 22 percent ahead of a year ago, contributing to a new third-quarter volume record and capping the best model year in company history. "We've set consecutive quarterly sales records in a year that's been relatively flat for the industry as a whole," said James P. Holden, Executive Vice President - Sales and Marketing. "It's a continuing consumer endorsement of our lineup of innovative and exciting cars, trucks, minivans and Jeep vehicles," Holden said. "September's results are up from last month and they showed a daily sales rate substantially higher than a year ago. It's a good sign that people like our new '97 models and they're buying them." Chrysler's U.S. sales for September totaled 183,664 vehicles, compared with 157,004 a year ago. That was an increase of 22 percent based on daily selling rate. It represented the best September for Chrysler since 1986, when sales of 212,327 set a record. Chrysler passenger car sales were up 17 percent, with September records for Dodge Stratus and for the combined total of Chrysler's compact JA body cars. Dodge Neon also set a September record. Chrysler light truck sales were up 24 percent, breaking a September record established in 1994. Among the individual monthly records were sales of Dodge Ram Pickup, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Town & Country total contributed to a new September record for Chrysler Corporation minivans. For the calendar year's first nine months, U.S. sales totaled a record 1,886,001, compared with 1,642,644 in 1995. The previous nine-month record was 1,696,982 in 1988. Chrysler's U.S. sales also set numerous records for the 1996 model year, the 12-month sales period that ended September 30, 1996. Among them: -- Total sales. Chrysler sold 2,407,700 vehicles from October 1, 1995, through September 30, surpassing the previous best of 2,186,128 set in 1994. -- Truck sales were 1,579,060 compared with 1,363,546 in 1994, the previous record model year. -- Minivan. Chrysler Corporation sold 542,715 Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth minivans in the model year, breaking the 1994 all-time record of 524,419. -- Dodge Division, including model-year records for Dodge trucks, the Ram Pickup and the Caravan minivan. -- Jeep/Eagle Division, with individual model-year record sales of Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and Wrangler. Model-year records also were set for three of Chrysler's four car groups: -- Small cars: Dodge and Plymouth Neon. -- Compacts: Chrysler Cirrus, Dodge Stratus and Plymouth Breeze. -- Sports coupes: Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. CHRYSLER MONTHLY SALES SUMMARY DATA THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 MONTH CYTD 1996 1995 1996 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------- TOT VEHICLE UNITS 183664 157004 1886001 1642644 % change from previous year 22% 14% ------------------------------------------------------------------- CAR DOMESTIC UNITS 57070 50309 657025 607054 % change from previous year 18% 8% IMPORT UNITS 803 1331 4692 12203 % change from previous year -37% -62% TOTAL UNITS 57873 51640 661717 619257 % change from previous year 17% 6% ------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUCK DOMESTIC UNITS 125791 105364 1224284 1023387 % change from previous year 24% 19% IMPORT UNITS 0 0 0 0 % change from previous year 0% 0% TOTAL UNITS 125791 105364 1224284 1023387 % change from previous year 24% 19% ------------------------------------------------------------------- DIVISION CHRY/PLYM UNITS 45568 38588 487802 435619 % change from previous year 23% 11% ------------------------------------------------------------------- DODGE UNITS 91235 81699 994432 846908 % change from previous year 16% 17% ------------------------------------------------------------------- JEEP/EAGLE UNITS 46861 36717 403767 360117 % change from previous year 33% 12% ------------------------------------------------------------------- SELLING DAYS 24 25 231 230 ALL CHANGES COMPUTED ON A DAILY RATE BASIS SALES REPORTING & ANALYSIS 10/01/96