Chrysler Group Reports U.S. April Sales
* Dealers 'Energized' by Launch of New Jeep(R) Liberty
* Minivan Sales Up Six Percent
* Strong End of Month is a Positive Sign
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 1 Chrysler Group reported U.S.
sales of 187,119 units in April 2001, compared to 228,992 in April 2000, which
is a decline of 18 percent. "The last 10 days of the month saw a significant
increase in both showroom traffic and sales," said Gary Dilts, Senior Vice
President - Sales. "Even in the face of an uncertain economy, that is a sign
that the traditional Spring car-buying season has arrived."
Leading the way were improved sales for the Chrysler Group line of
minivans -- the Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler Voyager, Dodge Caravan and
Dodge Grand Caravan. Overall minivan sales were up six percent, selling
38,299 units, compared to April 2000. Town and Country sales jumped 76
percent with 11,589 units sold -- a new April record. Dodge Caravan sales
also increased, up three percent over last year.
PT Cruiser, now in its second year on the market, beat the previous April
sales mark by 40 percent.
Other improvements showed Chrysler truck sales of 27,023 units, up 34
percent over April last year, and Chrysler Sebring Coupe, up 17 percent, with
sales of 1,571 units.
"We just completed a 25-city tour where we discussed sales objectives with
dealers, and that feedback will help us better align our performance goals,"
said Dilts.
Dilts added that co-marketing efforts between dealers were just beginning
to get off the ground, as well. The company began a new "See. Drive.
Compare." advertising campaign in April, and Dilts expects that to be matched
by dealer efforts to bring people into the showrooms to compare products.
"We've said that once people get behind the wheel of many of our products, we
shine," he said. "The issue sometimes is getting them into the showroom ...
and we want to become even more successful at that in the months ahead."
The company is optimistic for the remainder of the year. The all-new
Jeep(R) Liberty is being launched this week, ahead of schedule. "Initial
reaction from dealers is that Jeep Liberty can do for the Jeep brand what
Chrysler PT Cruiser has done for the Chrysler brand -- energize our dealer
partners," said Dilts.
The company has the capacity to build more than 200,000 Jeep Liberty units
annually in its all-new one-billion dollar Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly Plant.
At full production, the plant will employ more than 2,100 people and build 800
units per day. Shipments of Jeep Liberty to dealers begin this week.
Chrysler Group reduced inventories in April 2001 to 471,557 units, a 28
percent reduction from April 2000, when it had 656,950 units in inventory.
Inventory for April 2001 has shrunk to a 63-day supply, compared to a 72-day
supply in April 2000.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary, Thru April 2001
Month Sales Sales CYTD
Model Curr Pr DR % Curr Pr DR % Total
Yr Yr Change Yr Yr Change Stock
Neon 3116 4970 -37% 16011 21111 -24% 6258
Breeze - 702 -100% 127 4214 -97% -
Prowler 98 364 -73% 550 1076 -49% 708
PLYMOUTH CAR 3214 6036 -47% 16688 26401 -37% 6966
Voyager - 2084 -100% 340 20123 -98% -
PLYMOUTH TRUCK - 2084 -100% 340 20123 -98% -
PLYMOUTH BRAND 3214 8120 -60% 17028 46524 -63% 6966
Cirrus - 5627 -100% 371 19067 -98% -
Sebring Sedan 4246 - - 18519 - - 10617
Sebring Coupe 1571 1341 17% 6069 5605 8% 10089
Sebring Convertible 4536 5347 -15% 16716 21566 -22% 12332
Concorde 2484 5134 -52% 10610 19429 -45% 9077
300M 2883 5703 -49% 11730 17964 -35% 10364
LHS 981 2169 -55% 4353 8729 -50% 3846
Prowler 81 - - 181 - - 669
CHRYSLER CAR 16782 25321 -34% 68549 92360 -26% 56994
PT Cruiser 11630 8326 40% 51489 8326 - 11780
Voyager 3804 5226 -27% 15263 21440 -29% 10007
Town & Country 11589 6597 76% 49032 35786 37% 30120
CHRYSLER TRUCK 27023 20149 34% 115784 65552 77% 51907
CHRYSLER BRAND 43805 45470 -4% 184333 157912 17% 108901
Wrangler 6365 8219 -23% 20570 28238 -27% 17552
Cherokee 9333 11701 -20% 43227 47844 -10% 17780
Liberty - - - - - - 5898
Grand Cherokee 16770 22066 -24% 75215 86508 -13% 50339
JEEP BRAND 32468 41986 -23% 139012 162590 -15% 91569
CP CAR 19996 31357 -36% 85237 118761 -28% 63960
CPJ TRUCK 59491 64219 -7% 255136 248265 3% 143476
CPJ DIVISION 79487 95576 -17% 340373 367026 -7% 207436
Neon 9034 13225 -32% 38001 42204 -10% 15857
Stratus Sedan 6674 11564 -42% 37322 48851 -24% 9855
Stratus Coupe 2028 - - 7548 - - 8139
Avenger - 760 -100% 143 3337 -96% -
Intrepid 9825 13968 -30% 41679 59111 -29% 17122
Viper 107 158 -32% 485 534 -9% 438
DODGE CAR 27668 39675 -30% 125178 154037 -19% 51411
Dakota 13749 16555 -17% 52264 60624 -14% 30351
Ram P/U 26787 32496 -18% 113156 128330 -12% 89935
Caravan 22906 22262 3% 84916 117697 -28% 48704
Durango 9891 15124 -35% 44665 54229 -18% 30160
Ram Wagon 3084 2667 16% 8598 9042 -5% 2978
Ram Van 3547 4637 -24% 14780 17708 -17% 10582
DODGE TRUCK 79964 93741 -15% 318379 387630 -18% 212710
DODGE DIVISION 107632 133416 -19% 443557 541667 -18% 264121
TOTAL CAR 47664 71032 -33% 210415 272798 -23% 115371
TOTAL TRUCK 139455 157960 -12% 573515 635895 -10% 356186
TOTAL CAR & TRUCK 187119 228992 -18% 783930 908693 -14% 471557
Total Minivan 38299 36169 6% 149551 195046 -23% 88831
Total Sport Utility 53989 65436 -17% 235166 225145 4% 133509
Selling Days 25 25 102 102
Global Sales Reporting & Analysis
