DaimlerChrysler Reports May Sales
2 June 2000
DaimlerChrysler Reports May U.S. Sales: SUVs Set New May Sales Record And Chrysler Brand Sets Best Ever Sales Record
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 1 The Chrysler brand sold more
cars and trucks than any other month in its history, spurred by the continued
success of the PT Cruiser and a 24 percent increase in Cirrus sales. The
Chrysler group also set a second consecutive sport utility vehicles sales
record, selling 69,982 vehicles. Total sales for all the brands of the
Chrysler group were 226,348, down 18 percent compared with May of 1999, the
corporation's best-ever sales month.
"We sold nearly a quarter of a million vehicles in May, and when you look
at this number, we had a very solid month," said Theodor Cunningham, Executive
Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "However, when you compare that to May
of 1999, which was the best-ever sales month in our history, the numbers are
down.
"We are very much on target with our 2000 sales goal. In light of
shifting interest rates, we have adjusted our incentive strategy to be more
appealing to the consumer," Cunningham added. "Sales of our PT Cruiser and
sport utilities remain strong in an increasingly competitive marketplace."
May Sales Highlights:
-- SUVs set record sales making this the second consecutive monthly sales
record.
-- Chrysler sold 5,366 PT Cruisers in May and continues to surpass all
sales expectations.
-- Jeep Grand Cherokee sales were 24,926 units, posting a four percent
increase compared with May 1999.
-- Chrysler Cirrus sales increased 29 percent.
-- Dodge Stratus rose 21 percent with sales of 10,375 units.
-- Dakota Quad Cab sales remained strong, accounting for 37 percent of
Dakota sales and increasing three percent over last month (Quad Cab
unavailable in 1999).
-- Dodge Viper sales gained 17 percent.
-- Dodge Ram Wagon increased 35 percent to 3,377.
-- Plymouth Prowler set a new record with 293 units.
"The PT Cruiser continues to be an incredible hit with the public and
proves our theory that the key to long-term sales in this marketplace is to
have the most exciting and innovative vehicles in the market," Cunningham
said. "To back that up, we are replacing 33 percent of our U.S. sales volume
with new product for the 2001 model year, and we feel we are well on the way
to meeting our objective."
DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary, Thru May 2000
Month Sales DR % Sales CYTD DR %
Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change
Neon 4770 8475 -46% 25881 33094 -22%
Breeze 494 3711 -87% 4708 31080 -85%
Prowler 293 225 25% 1369 930 46%
PLYMOUTH CAR 5557 12411 -57% 31958 65104 -51%
Voyager 1523 15955 -91% 21646 69065 -69%
PLYMOUTH TRUCK 1523 15955 -91% 21646 69065 -69%
PLYMOUTH BRAND 7080 28366 -76% 53604 134169 -60%
Cirrus 5150 3850 29% 24217 14572 65%
Sebring Sedan 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Sebring Coupe 961 2752 -66% 6566 11407 -43%
Sebring
Convertible 4724 6063 -25% 26290 26979 -3%
Concorde 4769 5753 -20% 24198 25602 -6%
300M 4231 5107 -20% 22195 23615 -7%
LHS 1938 1932 -4% 10667 8961 18%
CHRYSLER CAR 21773 25457 -18% 114133 111136 2%
PT Cruiser 5366 0 0% 13692 0 0%
Voyager 6299 0 0% 27739 0 0%
Town & Country 5149 6169 -20% 40935 28285 44%
CHRYSLER TRUCK 16814 6169 162% 82366 28285 189%
CHRYSLER BRAND 38587 31626 17% 196499 139421 40%
Wrangler 9881 11234 -15% 38119 37972 0%
Cherokee 13060 16928 -26% 60904 69602 -13%
Grand Cherokee 24926 23078 4% 111434 112931 -2%
JEEP BRAND 47867 51240 -10% 210457 220505 -5%
CP CAR 27330 37868 -31% 146091 176240 -18%
CPJ TRUCK 66204 73364 -13% 314469 317855 -2%
CPJE DIVISION 93534 111232 -19% 460560 494095 -8%
Neon 12956 12484 0% 55160 49672 10%
Stratus Sedan 10375 8276 21% 59226 38971 51%
Stratus Coupe 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Avenger 597 1647 -65% 3934 7691 -49%
Intrepid 12532 14172 -15% 71643 65096 9%
Viper 123 101 17% 657 521 25%
DODGE CAR 36583 36680 -4% 190620 161951 17%
Caravan 22314 33356 -36% 140011 139509 0%
Durango 16659 18441 -13% 70888 80785 -13%
Dakota 17004 17207 -5% 77628 70249 10%
Ram P/U 32704 40197 -22% 161034 171335 -7%
Ram Wagon 3377 2401 35% 12419 10969 12%
Ram Van 4173 5218 -23% 21881 22301 -3%
DODGE TRUCK 96231 116820 -21% 483861 495148 -3%
DODGE DIVISION 132814 153500 -17% 674481 657099 2%
TOTAL CAR 63913 74548 -18% 336711 338191 -1%
TOTAL TRUCK 162435 190184 -18% 798330 813003 -3%
TOTAL CAR
& TRUCK 226348 264732 -18% 1135041 1151194 -2%
Total Minivan 35285 55480 -39% 230331 236859 -4%
Total Sport
Utility 69892 69681 -4% 295037 301290 -3%
Selling Days 26 25 128 127