Press Release
Chrysler Announces October Sales
11/07/96
Chrysler Sales Shatter October Records
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 1 -- Chrysler Corporation
shattered a 24-year-old October record last month, posting
vehicle sales at a rate 19 percent higher than a year ago.
Sales totaled 205,393 vehicles, compared with 166,823 in October 1995
and surpassing an October record of 176,339 set in 1972. It was
Chrysler's 12th consecutive month with a year-over-year sales rate
increase.
"It's a solid signal that buyers are just as enthusiastic about our
1997 models as they were for 1996," said James P. Holden, Executive
Vice President - Sales and Marketing.
"We were ahead of last year across the board -- in small cars, large
cars, minivans, trucks and Jeep(R) vehicles," Holden said. "It was our
best October total and we set a retail record, as well."
Car sales were 61,213, compared with 53,336 a year ago -- a daily
sales rate increase of 11 percent. The sales total for trucks --
including minivans and Jeep(R) vehicles -- was 144,180 in October,
compared with 113,487 a year ago. The daily sales rate for trucks
increased 22 percent.
U.S. sales of Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Jeep(R) and Eagle vehicles
totaled 2,091,394 for the first 10 months of 1996 for a daily sales
rate 15 percent ahead of last year. Year-to-date passenger car sales
through October were 7 percent higher; trucks were up 19 percent.
Also among Chrysler's October results:
-- The 35th consecutive monthly sales record for Dodge Ram Pickup and
the 18th consecutive record for Dodge Truck. Ram Pickup sales were 40
percent ahead of last year's October rate.
-- Sales of Dodge Dakota Pickup, all new for 1997, surged 50 percent
from the previous month and were 13 percent higher than a year ago.
-- October records were set for Dodge Stratus and the combined sales
of JA-body cars, the Stratus, Chrysler Cirrus and Plymouth Breeze.
-- Dodge Neon set a new high for October, and combined Dodge and
Plymouth Neon sales also broke a monthly record.
-- Chrysler Sebring Convertible broke a monthly record set by its
predecessor, the LeBaron convertible, for the third month in a row.
-- Bolstered by the fourth straight monthly record for Dodge Caravan
and the 18th for Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Corporation's
minivans set a new high for October.
-- Jeep(R) posted its sixth monthly record in seven months, with
individual records for Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.
CHRYSLER MONTHLY SALES SUMMARY
DATA THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1996
MONTH CYTD
1996 1995 1996 1995
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TOT VEHICLE UNITS 205393 166823 2091394 1809467
% CHG VS PR YR 19% 15%
CAR
DOMESTIC UNITS 61213 52222 718238 659276
% CHG VS PR YR 13% 8%
IMPORT UNITS 0 1114 4692 13317
% CHG VS PR YR -100% -65%
TOTAL UNITS 61213 53336 722930 672593
% CHG VS PR YR 11% 7%
TRUCK
DOMESTIC UNITS 144180 113487 1368464 1136874
% CHG VS PR YR 22% 19%
IMPORT UNITS 0 0 0 0
% CHG VS PR YR 0% 0%
TOTAL UNITS 144180 113487 1368464 1136874
% CHG VS PR YR 22% 19%
DIVISION
CHRY/PLYM UNITS 50260 40029 538062 475648
% CHG VS PR YR 21% 12%
DODGE UNITS 104346 86935 1098778 933843
% CHG VS PR YR 16% 17%
JEEP/EAGLE UNITS 50787 39859 454554 399976
% CHG VS PR YR 23% 13%
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SELLING DAYS: 27 26 258 256
ALL CHANGES COMPUTED ON A DAILY RATE BASIS
SALES REPORTING & ANALYSIS