Record Sales Steer DaimlerChrysler to Strong April
3 May 2000
Record Sales of SUVs, Trucks, Dodge and Chrysler Brands Steer DaimlerChrysler to Strong April
PT Cruiser Creates Showroom Frenzy
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 2 Heavy demand for the all-new
Chrysler PT Cruiser and record-setting truck and sport utility vehicle sales
helped push Chrysler group sales to 228,992, the best April since 1996 and an
increase of six percent compared with April 1999.
DaimlerChrysler sold 8,326 PT Cruisers in April, its debut sales month.
Sport utility vehicle sales were 65,436, an April record and a 14 percent gain
compared with 1999 sales of 59,851. Total truck sales of 157,960 set a third
consecutive monthly sales record and the eleventh record in 16 months.
Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee set an April record with 22,066 units sold. The
Chrysler brand broke a 14-year old April sales record with 45,470 units sold,
its best-ever April and a 78 percent increase over 1999 sales of 26,619.
"The first month of PT Cruiser sales has created a frenzy in our showrooms
and that increased traffic led to another strong sales month for trucks," said
Theodor R. Cunningham, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "The
Dodge brand has been on a roll, setting its third consecutive monthly sales
record and its 13th record in the last 16 months. Meanwhile, the Chrysler
brand has been even hotter, experiencing a 78 percent increase. Overall sales
of our passenger cars continue to grow in a competitive market, jumping nine
percent compared with last April."
Individual April sales highlights include:
* Jeep Grand Cherokee had record sales of 22,066, up six percent.
* Chrysler 300M set an all-time sales record of 5,703 units, a 23 percent
increase over April 1999.
* Dodge car sales increased 32 percent compared with 1999 sales.
* Dodge Dakota set its fourth sales record in five months with sales of
16,555, a gain of 17 percent.
* Dodge Neon set a new April sales record of 13,225, up 22 percent
compared with April 1999.
* Dodge Durango sales increased two percent to 15,124.
"Consumer demand for our products continues to grow and we will double PT
Cruiser production this month," Cunningham said. "With our product strength
and an impressive array of new products coming on-line this year, we are
looking forward to a strong 2000 sales year."
DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary, Thru April 2000
Month Sales DR % Sales CYTD DR %
Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change
Neon 4970 6913 -25% 21111 24619 -14%
Breeze 702 7129 -90% 4214 27369 -85%
Prowler 364 188 101% 1076 705 53%
PLYMOUTH CAR 6036 14230 -56% 26401 52693 -50%
Voyager 2084 11422 -81% 20123 53110 -62%
PLYMOUTH TRUCK 2084 11422 -81% 20123 53110 -62%
PLYMOUTH BRAND 8120 25652 -67% 46524 105803 -56%
Cirrus 5627 3116 88% 19067 10722 78%
Sebring Sedan 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Sebring Coupe 1341 2265 -38% 5605 8655 -35%
Sebring Convertible 5347 4675 19% 21566 20916 3%
Concorde 5134 5420 -1% 19429 19849 -2%
300M 5703 4841 23% 17964 18508 -3%
LHS 2169 1910 18% 8729 7029 24%
CHRYSLER CAR 25321 22227 18% 92360 85679 8%
PT Cruiser 8326 0 0% 8326 0 0%
Voyager 5226 0 0% 21440 0 0%
Town & Country 6597 4392 56% 35786 22116 62%
CHRYSLER TRUCK 20149 4392 377% 65552 22116 196%
CHRYSLER BRAND 45470 26619 78% 157912 107795 46%
Wrangler 8219 8292 3% 28238 26738 6%
Cherokee 11701 14544 -16% 47844 52674 -9%
Grand Cherokee 22066 21583 6% 86508 89853 -4%
JEEP BRAND 41986 44419 -2% 162590 169265 -4%
CP CAR 31357 36457 -11% 118761 138372 -14%
CPJ TRUCK 64219 60233 11% 248265 244491 2%
CPJE DIVISION 95576 96690 3% 367026 382863 -4%
Neon 13225 11232 22% 42204 37188 13%
Stratus 11564 6536 84% 48851 30695 59%
Avenger 760 1437 -45% 3337 6044 -45%
Intrepid 13968 11910 22% 59111 50924 16%
Viper 158 141 17% 534 420 27%
DODGE CAR 39675 31256 32% 154037 125271 23%
Caravan 22262 24166 -4% 117697 106153 11%
Durango 15124 15432 2% 54229 62344 -13%
Dakota 16555 14769 17% 60624 53042 14%
Ram P/U 32496 35446 -5% 128330 131138 -2%
Ram Wagon 2667 2400 16% 9042 8568 6%
Ram Van 4637 5036 -4% 17708 17083 4%
DODGE TRUCK 93741 97249 0% 387630 378328 2%
DODGE DIVISION 133416 128505 8% 541667 503599 8%
TOTAL CAR 71032 67713 9% 272798 263643 3%
TOTAL TRUCK 157960 157482 4% 635895 622819 2%
TOTAL CAR & TRUCK 228992 225195 6% 908693 886462 3%
Total Minivan 36169 39980 -6% 195046 181379 8%
Total Sport Utility 65436 59851 14% 225145 231609 -3%
Selling Days 25 26 102 102