Chrysler Sets October Sales Record
4 November 1998
Chrysler Sets October Sales Record
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 3 -- Chrysler Corporation
sold 226,179 vehicles last month, a 20 percent surge over last year and its
fourth sales record in the last six months.
"With Day One of DaimlerChrysler rapidly approaching, this is yet another
sign that both companies are entering the merger with great momentum," said
James Holden, Executive Vice-President of Sales and Marketing.
"Sales continue to be very strong, and consumers don't appear to be
reading consumer confidence reports," Holden said.
Chrysler set 17 sales records in October, including a Corporate total of
226,179, which bested an October 1996 record of 205,393. Truck sales were
158,820, up 17 percent over last year, marking the 11th time in 12 months that
Chrysler truck sales have been record-setting. Passenger car sales, also
strong, were 67,359, up 27 percent over last October. Sales of sport utility
vehicles continued to build momentum as well, tallying 59,273 for the month, a
29 percent jump over last October's sales.
Sales of Chrysler brand vehicles were 27,826 units in October, a 35
percent increase over last year. Chrysler Concorde led the brand, posting
5,945 in volume, a 233 percent increase over last October and the second
consecutive month Concorde sales have set a record. The newly-launched 300M
also came on strong, with sales of 4,794 for the month, a nine percent jump
over last month. Chrysler's LHS sales totaled 2,384, a 335 percent leap for
that model over last year. Jeep brand vehicles also posted brisk sales during
October, with the Jeep Wrangler selling 7,783, a 25 percent increase, and the
Jeep Cherokee selling 14,763 units, a 21 percent increase over October 1997.
Sales of Dodge brand vehicles continued on a record pace, with the
Division as a whole posting sales of 133,014, the 12th consecutive month in
which Dodge has set a division record. Dodge Truck sales made up 100,652 of
the total, a 37 percent rise versus last year. Dodge Cars, meanwhile, posted
a total of 32,362 in unit sales, pushing ahead of last October's total by
23 percent. The Dodge Ram Pickup led the truck pack, with sales of 42,813, a
33 percent increase, and the sixth consecutive record-setting sales month for
the Ram Pickup. Dodge Dakota also continued its forward momentum, recording
sales of 13,737, a 16 percent rise over the previous October, and the 7th
consecutive month in which Dakota has set a sales record. Dodge Intrepid sold
11,675 units, a 183 percent surge over last October and a monthly high for the
Intrepid, surpassing an October best set in 1994. Sales of the Dodge Durango
-- 17,683 for the month -- represented a 25 percent increase over last month,
and an all-time monthly high for the Durango, besting its previous benchmark
last month of 13,111 units.
Chrysler U.S. Sales Summary, Thru October 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 7944 7580 5% 70485 72416 -3% 7944 7580 5%
Breeze 4604 5030 -8% 53013 57016 -7% 4604 5030 -8%
Prowler 153 11 NM 1311 39 NM 153 11 NM
PLYMOUTH
CAR 12701 12621 1% 124809 129471 -4% 12701 12621 1%
Voyager 10899 11675 -7% 134347 134437 0% 10899 11675 -7%
PLYMOUTH
TRUCK 10899 11675 -7% 134347 134437 0% 10899 11675 -7%
PLYMOUTH
BRAND 23600 24296 -3% 259156 263908 -2% 23600 24296 -3%
Cirrus 3290 3400 -3% 33658 25388 33% 3290 3400 -3%
Sebring
Coupe 2611 3107 -16% 29874 30879 -3% 2611 3107 -16%
Sebring Convertible
3123 4272 -27% 44616 47533 -6% 3123 4272 -27%
Concorde 5945 1787 233% 54632 36985 48% 5945 1787 233%
300M 4794 0 0% 21766 0 0% 4794 0 0%
LHS 2384 548 335% 13253 28969 -54% 2384 548 335%
CHRYSLER
CAR 22147 13114 69% 197799 169754 17% 22147 13114 69%
Town &
Country 5679 7464 -24% 60580 64254 -6% 5679 7464 -24%
CHRYSLER
TRUCK 5679 7464 -24% 60580 64254 -6% 5679 7464 -24%
CHRYSLER
BRAND 27826 20578 35% 258379 234008 10% 27826 20578 35%
Wrangler 7783 6215 25% 72495 70785 2% 7783 6215 25%
Cherokee 14763 12193 21% 122101 105786 15% 14763 12193 21%
Grand
Cherokee 19044 24408 -22% 185299 213060 -13% 19044 24408 -22%
JEEP
BRAND 41590 42816 -3% 379895 389631 -2% 41590 42816 -3%
Talon 149 638 -77% 2957 8847 -67% 149 638 -77%
Vision 0 298 -100% 501 4933 -90% 0 298 -100%
EAGLE
BRAND 149 936 -84% 3458 13780 -75% 149 936 -84%
CPJE CAR 34997 26671 31% 326066 313005 4% 34997 26671 31%
CPJE
TRUCK 58168 61955 -6% 574822 588322 -2% 58168 61955 -6%
CPJE DIVISION
93165 88626 5% 900888 901327 0% 93165 88626 5%
Neon 11337 10361 9% 105833 100422 5% 11337 10361 9%
Stratus 7355 9062 -19% 94596 82491 15% 7355 9062 -19%
Avenger 1895 2660 -29% 21531 28667 -25% 1895 2660 -29%
Intrepid 11675 4127 183% 88207 110517 -20% 11675 4127 183%
Viper 100 161 -38% 1074 1265 -15% 100 161 -38%
DODGE
CAR 32362 26371 23% 311241 323362 -4% 32362 26371 23%
Caravan 20742 21032 -1% 248451 243273 2% 20742 21032 -1%
Durango 17683 3025 485% 123817 3025 NM 17683 3025 485%
Dakota 13737 11821 16% 129527 108827 19% 13737 11821 16%
Ram P/U 42813 32079 33% 341765 286330 19% 42813 32079 33%
Ram Wagon 844 536 57% 14872 16899 -12% 844 536 57%
Ram Van 4833 4773 1% 44113 50552 -13% 4833 4773 1%
DODGE
TRUCK 100652 73266 37% 902545 708906 27% 100652 73266 37%
DODGE DIVISION
133014 99637 33% 1213786 1032268 18% 133014 99637 33%
TOTAL
CAR 67359 53042 27% 637307 636367 0% 67359 53042 27%
TOTAL
TRUCK 158820 135221 17% 1477367 1297228 14% 158820 135221 17%
TOTAL CAR & TRUCK
226179 188263 20% 2114674 1933595 9% 226179 188263 20%
Total Minivan
37320 40171 -7% 443378 441964 0% 37320 40171 -7%
Total Sport Utility
59273 45841 29% 503712 392656 28% 59273 45841 29%
Selling
Days 27 27 257 257 27 27