Chrysler Group Reports U.S. March Sales Down 4%
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 2 -- Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 217,158 units in March 2002, a four percent decrease compared to last year, which was the third highest March in company history (234,495). Retail sales were comparable to a year ago, but overall sales declined due to lower fleet orders, especially daily rental units.
Total sales for the month increased eight percent over February 2002, when measured on a daily selling rate.
Sales during the month showed gains in key areas. For the month, total sales of Dodge Ram were 35,457 units, up eight percent, compared to March 2001. March was the fourth consecutive month that Ram truck sales increased. Compared to March 2001, sales of the Dodge Caravan minivan at 27,427 units were up two percent last month, and Chrysler PT Cruiser sales of 14,015 units were up 11 percent.
``Sales of the all-new Dodge Ram continue to gain momentum in a highly competitive marketplace,'' said Gary Dilts, Senior Vice President - Sales. ``This fall we will launch the Ram 2500 and Ram 3500, to complete our Ram pickup truck product line. Ram's best-in-class features, as well as its bold styling, will continue the pace set by our Ram 1500.''
``Retail sales for March show that strong products and clear brand identities, along with a strategic incentive plan, can spur sales in a very competitive environment,'' added Dilts. ``All of these factors explain why retail truck and car sales both improved significantly last month compared to March 2001.''
Among March sales highlights on the car side, compared with the same month last year:
- Chrysler brand car sales of 19,203 units were up 12 percent
- Dodge cars at 38,703 units were up five percent
- Chrysler 300M sales of 2,930 units were up 14 percent
- Chrysler Sebring Convertible sales of 6,025 units were up 40 percent
- Dodge Intrepid sales of 14,372 units were up 34 percent
- Dodge Neon sales of 11,795 units were up 11 percent
Chrysler Group finished the month with 473,351 units of inventory, a 59- day supply, in line with the industry benchmark of a 60-65 day supply.
On March 28, Chrysler Group extended its current incentive program through April 30, 2002. This program has up to $2,500 consumer cash on select 2002 model year Chrysler, Jeep®, and Dodge vehicles, plus the company's seven- year/100,000-mile powertrain protection pledge on all Chrysler Group vehicles.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary, Thru March 2002
Month Sales DR % Sales CYTD DR %
Model Curr Pr Change Curr Pr Change
Yr Yr Yr Yr
Neon 69 4650 -98% 214 12895 -98%
Breeze 0 0 0% 0 127 -100%
Prowler 95 144 -32% 166 452 -63%
PLYMOUTH CAR 164 4794 -96% 380 13474 -97%
Voyager 0 0 0% 0 340 -100%
PLYMOUTH TRUCK 0 0 0% 0 340 -100%
PLYMOUTH BRAND 164 4794 -96% 380 13814 -97%
Cirrus 0 0 0% 0 371 -100%
Sebring Sedan 6161 4862 31% 16711 14273 19%
Sebring Coupe 1116 1858 -38% 2895 4498 -35%
Sebring Convertible 6025 4451 40% 13222 12180 10%
Concorde 2683 2927 -5% 8270 8126 3%
300M 2930 2655 14% 7601 8847 -13%
LHS 88 913 -90% 309 3372 -91%
Prowler 200 75 177% 535 100 0%
CHRYSLER CAR 19203 17741 12% 49543 51767 -3%
PT Cruiser 14015 13089 11% 35671 39859 -9%
Voyager 4528 4808 -2% 10751 11459 -5%
Town & Country 12703 16141 -18% 31806 37443 -14%
CHRYSLER TRUCK 31246 34038 -5% 78228 88761 -11%
CHRYSLER BRAND 50449 51779 1% 127771 140528 -8%
Wrangler 5263 5714 -4% 12387 14205 -12%
Cherokee 0 12765 -100% 0 33894 -100%
Liberty 12594 0 0% 34880 0 0%
Grand Cherokee 20175 23025 -9% 51307 58445 -11%
JEEP BRAND 38032 41504 -5% 98574 106544 -6%
CP CAR 19367 22535 -11% 49923 65241 -22%
CPJ TRUCK 69278 75542 -5% 176802 195645 -8%
CPJ DIVISION 88645 98077 -6% 226725 260886 -12%
Neon 11795 10973 11% 31588 28967 10%
Stratus Sedan 11020 13511 -15% 25984 30648 -14%
Stratus Coupe 1358 2387 -41% 3517 5520 -35%
Avenger 0 0 0% 0 143 -100%
Intrepid 14372 11083 34% 30575 31854 -3%
Viper 158 131 25% 369 378 -1%
DODGE CAR 38703 38085 5% 92033 97510 -4%
Dakota 11825 16315 -25% 29882 38515 -21%
Ram P/U 35457 34035 8% 93729 86369 10%
Caravan 27427 27906 2% 61768 62010 1%
Durango 10865 13477 -16% 27154 34774 -21%
Ram Wagon 1597 2481 -33% 3949 5514 -27%
Ram Van 2639 4119 -34% 6959 11233 -37%
DODGE TRUCK 89810 98333 -5% 223441 238415 -5%
DODGE DIVISION 128513 136418 -2% 315474 335925 -5%
TOTAL CAR 58070 60620 -1% 141956 162751 -12%
TOTAL TRUCK 159088 173875 -5% 400243 434060 -7%
TOTAL CAR & TRUCK 217158 234495 -4% 542199 596811 -8%
Total Minivan 44658 48855 -5% 104325 111252 -5%
Total Sport Utility 48897 54981 -8% 125728 141318 -10%
Selling Days 27 28 76 77