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
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TOT VEHICLE UNITS 183664 157004 1886001 1642644
% change from previous year 22% 14%
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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%
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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%
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DIVISION
CHRY/PLYM UNITS 45568 38588 487802 435619
% change from previous year 23% 11%
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DODGE UNITS 91235 81699 994432 846908
% change from previous year 16% 17%
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JEEP/EAGLE UNITS 46861 36717 403767 360117
% change from previous year 33% 12%
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SELLING DAYS 24 25 231 230
ALL CHANGES COMPUTED ON A DAILY RATE BASIS
SALES REPORTING & ANALYSIS 10/01/96