DaimlerChrysler Combined U.S. Results Show Record Months For All Automotive Business Units
2 March 2000
DaimlerChrysler Combined U.S. Results Show Record Months For All Auto Units
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 1 -- Consolidated DaimlerChrysler
sales in the United States totaled 260,763 for a record-setting February 2000,
versus 237,814 in 1999, representing a record month for all automotive
business units, including Chrysler, Plymouth, Jeep(R) and Dodge brands, plus
Mercedes-Benz USA and Freightliner Corporation.
Sales of Chrysler, Plymouth, Jeep and Dodge brand vehicles were a record
234,677, making February the ninth record month in the last 14 for
DaimlerChrysler Corporation. Sales were up five percent over the previous
record of 215,450 set in February, 1999. (Actual volume percentage increase
was 9 percent, but industry practice calculates figures based on daily selling
rates -- 25 in February 2000 versus 24 in February 1999.)
Mercedes-Benz USA of Montvale, New Jersey, recorded a record February with
15,546 unit sales, up from a 1999 total of 12,257. Freightliner Corporation
of Portland, Oregon (which includes the Freightliner and Sterling brands of
medium- and heavy-duty trucks) reported preliminary sales of 10,540, compared
to 10,107 in February 1999.
"These results reflect strong consumer confidence in our entire product
line," said James P. Holden, President of DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "Each
of our business units saw record growth.
"Our forecast continues to call for strong economic growth and a robust
sales year in all segments in which we compete."
Key highlights to this month's DaimlerChrysler Corporation sales were
record minivan and truck sales. Minivan sales were up 26 percent versus last
year -- a record level of 56,049, compared with the previous February record
of 46,905 set in 1994. Total truck sales were a record 164,201, up eight
percent versus last year's record volume of 145,436.
"We are particularly pleased with our minivan performance, which broke a
six-year old record and reaffirms DaimlerChrysler's leadership position in
this segment," said Holden. "Additionally, our truck sales were a record
164,201, indicating continued strength in this growing part of the market and
the success of the all-new Dakota Quad Cab."
The Chrysler brand achieved its second consecutive monthly record with
sales of 38,306, up 35 percent versus last year and exceeding the 1988 monthly
record of 32,891. Chrysler minivan sales drove the record -- Town & Country
sold a record 10,049 up 87 percent over last year, making this the fourth
consecutive monthly record. Chrysler Voyager sales were 6,107, continuing the
growth trend for this new nameplate.
The Dodge brand also had a monthly record with sales of 141,199, up nine
percent compared to last year, making this the eleventh record month in the
last 14 months. This month's volume surpassed the 1999 record of 124,219.
The Dodge Caravan had a record month with sales up 27 percent over last year.
The record of 33,313 surpassed the previous record of 25,204 set in 1999.
The Jeep brand rounded out the record month for the DaimlerChrysler
Corporation brands. A record 40,975 Jeep vehicles were sold in February,
breaking the 1999 record of 39,359.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary, Thru February 2000
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 6130 6708 -12% 10149 10693 -7% 24082 26685 -10%
Breeze 1266 5493 -78% 2588 11079 -77% 10235 22213 -54%
Prowler 221 203 5% 401 340 16% 1125 776 44%
PLYMOUTH
CAR 7617 12404 -41% 13138 22112 -42% 35442 49674 -29%
Voyager 6580 12311 -49% 12785 23881 -48% 35836 57404 -38%
PLYMOUTH
TRUCK 6580 12311 -49% 12785 23881 -48% 35836 57404 -38%
PLYMOUTH
BRAND 14197 24715 -45% 25923 45993 -45% 71278 107078 -34%
Cirrus 5177 2716 83% 8610 5060 67% 16355 13196 23%
Sebring
Coupe 1394 2186 -39% 2664 3911 -33% 7340 10232 -29%
Sebring Convertible
4951 5644 -16% 10074 10121 -2% 19229 19970 -4%
Concorde 4453 4773 -10% 7921 9152 -15% 21152 25377 -17%
300M 3913 4754 -21% 7302 8550 -16% 21196 22343 -6%
LHS 2262 1934 12% 4205 3393 21% 11230 9277 20%
CHRYSLER
CAR 22150 22007 -3% 40776 40187 -1% 96502 100395 -5%
PT Cruiser 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Voyager 6107 0 0% 8523 0 0% 8652 0 0%
Town & Country
10049 5150 87% 16930 10123 64% 38329 27203 40%
CHRYSLER TRUCK
16156 5150 201% 25453 10123 146% 46981 27203 71%
CHRYSLER
BRAND 38306 27157 35% 66229 50310 29% 143483 127598 12%
Wrangler 6383 5993 2% 11875 11213 4% 31290 30362 2%
Cherokee
12658 11292 8% 23629 23965 -3% 65420 62925 3%
Grand Cherokee
21934 22074 -5% 41684 44570 -8% 116331 107450 7%
JEEP
BRAND 40975 39359 0% 77188 79748 -5% 213041 200737 5%
Talon 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 149 -100%
Vision 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
EAGLE BRAND 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 149 -100%
CP CAR 29767 34411 -17% 53914 62299 -15% 131944 150218 -13%
CPJ
TRUCK 63711 56820 8% 115426 113752 -1% 295858 285344 3%
CPJE DIVISION
93478 91231 -2% 169340 176051 -6% 427802 435562 -3%
Neon 9876 9570 -1% 16918 15664 6% 41327 39132 5%
Stratus 14160 9537 43% 21648 17996 18% 47475 37189 27%
Avenger 873 1805 -54% 1608 3014 -48% 4743 7462 -37%
Intrepid
15676 14602 3% 29166 27058 6% 63646 61025 3%
Viper 124 89 34% 228 159 41% 593 433 36%
DODGE
CAR 40709 35603 10% 69568 63891 7% 157784 145241 8%
Caravan 33313 25204 27% 57978 47887 19% 120679 113997 5%
Durango 13199 15374 -18% 24894 30156 -19% 73874 80945 -9%
Dakota 14027 11970 12% 25856 22884 11% 60082 59723 0%
Ram P/U 33595 29962 8% 60390 59859 -1% 161463 171037 -6%
Ram
Wagon 2076 2169 -8% 3347 3307 -1% 6354 6216 1%
Ram Van 4280 3937 4% 7621 7222 3% 19943 20052 -1%
DODGE TRUCK
100490 88616 9% 180086 171315 3% 442395 451970 -3%
DODGE DIVISION
141199 124219 9% 249654 235206 4% 600179 597211 0%
TOTAL
CAR 70476 70014 -3% 123482 126190 -4% 289728 295459 -3%
TOTAL TRUCK
164201 145436 8% 295512 285067 2% 738253 737314 -1%
TOTAL CAR & TRUCK
234677 215450 5% 418994 411257 0% 1027981 1032773 -1%
Total Minivan
56049 42665 26% 96216 81891 15% 203496 198604 2%
Total Sport Utility
54174 54733 -5% 102082 109904 -9% 286915 281682 1%
Selling
Days 25 24 50 49 127 126