Chrysler Sets All-Time Sales Record
3 June 1998
Chrysler Sets All-Time Sales Record
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 2 -- Marking the first time in the
Company's history that monthly sales have surpassed 250,000 vehicles, Chrysler
Corporation posted its best sales month ever with sales totaling
250,031 units, a 27 percent increase over the same period a year ago. The
previous record of 245,289 vehicles was set in May 1996.
Overall, fifteen sales records were set for May, including minivans,
trucks and sport utility vehicles. Among individual nameplates, May records
were set for Dodge Ram Pickup, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Concorde,
Chrysler Sebring Convertible and Coupe and Jeep(R) Wrangler. Moreover, the
Dodge and Jeep brands set monthly records.
The Chrysler Corporation minivans -- Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and
Chrysler Town & Country -- set a record for May and continue to lead the
segment, despite increased competition, up 19 percent, 13 percent and
12 percent, respectively.
"This is just a tremendous performance," said James P. Holden, Executive
Vice President - Sales and Marketing. "With few exceptions, just about every
car, truck and minivan is up over a year ago. What's particularly pleasing is
our strong passenger car numbers -- something we've been forecasting as our
new large cars hit the market."
Total car sales of 73,452 vehicles were up five percent over May 1997.
Car sales were led by the all-new Chrysler Concorde, which posted monthly
sales of 7,205 units, a 78 percent increase. Other individual marks include
Chrysler Cirrus (3,855 units) up 43 percent; Chrysler Sebring Convertible
(6,213 units) up 18 percent; Chrysler Sebring Coupe (3,756 units) up eight
percent and the Dodge Neon (13,057 units) up 14 percent over one year ago.
The all-new Chrysler 300M and Chrysler LHS, in showrooms only two weeks,
posted combined sales of 2,800 units during May, evidence of strong consumer
appeal for the Chrysler flagship vehicles. Chrysler's other large car
vehicles -- Dodge Intrepid and Chrysler Concorde -- are showing considerable
strength, up substantially over last year's retail sales.
Total truck sales of 176,579 vehicles set an all-time record, surpassing
the previous mark set last month and a 39 percent increase over May 1997.
Total sport utility vehicle sales set a new all-time record with 60,138
vehicles sold, up 55 percent from one year ago. Individually, Jeep Grand
Cherokee sales increased 37 percent over May 1997 with 24,620 units sold.
Dodge Durango sales continued strong with 13,036 units sold, the best month
ever. Also, minivan sales rose 16 percent over last year, with 57,748 units
sold, exceeding the May 1996 record of 55,166 units.
Dodge Truck sales for the month of May set an all-time record with 104,838
vehicles sold, a 59 percent increase over the same period one year ago, and
surpassing the previous volume of 96,625 set just last month. Individual
model highlights include Dodge Ram Pickup (38,275 units) up 67 percent; Dodge
Dakota (13,632 units) up 39 percent and Dodge Caravan (33,109) up 19 percent.
All three of these models set records for the best May sales ever.
Total sales year-to-date are 1,049,133 units, an eight percent increase
over last year.
"This year keeps looking better with each successive month," said Holden.
"With five strong selling months behind us, including this record-breaking
May, we're well on our way to a record year. Certainly, our Owner's Bonus
Program has boosted existing strong demand. In addition to the loyalty shown
by our own customers, I'd like to think we've added a good number of new
customers to the Chrysler family this month."
Chrysler U.S. Sales Summary, Thru May 1998
Month Sales DR % Sales CYTD DR % Sales MYTD DR %
Model Curr Pr Change Curr Pr Change Curr Pr Change
Yr Yr Yr Yr Yr Yr
Neon 7783 7737 5% 35567 36672 -2% 57529 56277 3%
Breeze 6124 5912 8% 28250 34332 -17% 48763 50336 -3%
Prowler 166 0 0% 540 0 0% 632 0 0%
PLYMOUTH
CAR 14073 13649 7% 64357 71004 -9% 106924 106613 1%
Voyager 17440 16032 13% 69601 67189 4% 102895 100712 3%
PLYMOUTH
TRUCK 17440 16032 13% 69601 67189 4% 102895 100712 3%
PLYMOUTH
BRAND 31513 29681 10% 133958 138193 -2% 209819 207325 2%
Cirrus 3855 2812 43% 17166 11852 46% 26727 18310 47%
Sebring
Convertible 6213 5491 18% 25854 26679 -2% 35647 39012 -8%
Sebring
Coupe 3756 3609 8% 14022 14160 0% 21615 20224 7%
Concorde 7205 4221 78% 27739 20839 34% 31313 32492 -3%
LHS 1723 2454 -27% 2790 15827 -82% 4558 24227 -81%
300M 1077 0 0% 1077 0 0% 1077 0 0%
CHRYSLER
CAR 23829 18587 33% 88648 89357 0% 120937 134265 -9%
Town &
Country 7199 6686 12% 31042 29526 6% 50905 48367 6%
CHRYSLER
TRUCK 7199 6686 12% 31042 29526 6% 50905 48367 6%
CHRYSLER
BRAND 31028 25273 28% 119690 118883 1% 171842 182632 -5%
Wrangler 10087 9294 13% 33479 37410 -10% 50865 57110 -10%
Cherokee 12395 12430 4% 56337 47930 18% 92785 79286 18%
Grand
Cherokee 24620 18721 37% 100315 99053 2% 172538 178010 -3%
JEEP BRAND 47102 40445 21% 190131 184393 4% 316188 314406 1%
Talon 488 1044 -51% 2015 4703 -57% 4012 7045 -43%
Vision 47 563 -91% 302 3207 -91% 813 4963 -84%
EAGLE BRAND 535 1607 -65% 2317 7910 -70% 4825 12008 -60%
CPJE CAR 38437 33843 18% 155322 168271 -7% 232686 252886 -8%
CPJE TRUCK 71741 63163 18% 290774 281108 4% 469988 463485 2%
CPJE
DIVISION 110178 97006 18% 446096 449379 0% 702674 716371 -1%
Neon 13057 11920 14% 53514 51496 5% 85307 78086 10%
Stratus 10975 11128 3% 52946 44098 21% 78557 66734 18%
Intrepid 8263 12365 -31% 40970 67460 -39% 53117 98245 -46%
Avenger 2607 3596 -25% 9690 13897 -30% 15626 19604 -20%
Viper 113 92 28% 539 613 -11% 893 1196 -25%
DODGE CAR 35015 39101 -7% 157659 177564 -11% 233500 263865 -11%
Caravan 33109 29054 19% 131275 124039 7% 194770 191531 2%
Durango 13036 0 0% 58109 0 0% 78372 0 0%
Dakota 13632 10202 39% 66266 53662 24% 101221 81892 24%
Ram P/U 38275 23852 67% 160577 141536 14% 256583 237322 9%
Ram Wagon 2308 1146 109% 8439 9242 -8% 9448 13724 -31%
Ram Van 4478 4293 8% 20712 25967 -20% 31021 41509 -25%
DODGE
TRUCK 104838 68547 59% 445378 354446 27% 671415 565978 19%
DODGE
DIVISION 139853 107648 35% 603037 532010 14% 904915 829843 10%
TOTAL CAR 73452 72944 5% 312981 345835 -9% 466186 516751 -9%
TOTAL
TRUCK 176579 131710 39% 736152 635554 17% 1141403 1029463 11%
TOTAL CAR &
TRUCK 250031 204654 27% 1049133 981389 8% 1607589 1546214 4%
Selling
Days 25 26 127 128 204 205