Chrysler July sales down 9.3% but well ahead of June

Five vehicles set new monthly sales records for July; Jeep Patriot sales increased 134% compared with previous year, Dodge Caliber sales were up 63% versus July 2008, PT Cruiser sales were up 24% compared with previous year, and Mopar posted a U.S. sales increase of 9% compared with June 2009

Chrysler Group LLC today reported a 30% sales increase compared with June 2009. Consumer traffic in Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships more than doubled the last week in July compared with the same time period in 2008. The increased consumer traffic was driven by interest in the U.S. Government CARS program, more commonly known as “Cash for Clunkers” and Chrysler Group’s easy-to-understand incentive program.

“The government’s program is doing what it is designed to do-spur consumers to trade in older gas guzzlers for new, fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Peter Fong, President and Chief Executive Officer-Chrysler Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization, Chrysler Group LLC. “While we don’t expect the industry sales forecast to change dramatically, we are seeing encouraging signs that consumer confidence is building, and more consumers are considering purchasing a new vehicle.”

Chrysler Group LLC reported total U.S. sales for July 2009 of 88,900 units, an increase of 30% versus June 2009. Compared with the same time period in 2008, sales decreased 9%. Retail sales for July 2009 were 76,693 units. On July 27, the Company restarted production at nine of its 11 manufacturing facilities. Overall industry figures for July 2009 are projected to come in at an estimated 11.2 million SAAR.

“The new-vehicle sales market got a shot in the arm the last week of July,” said Steven Beahm, Vice President-Sales Organization, Chrysler Group LLC. “As a result of customers visiting their local Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealer, largely based on the news of the CARS program, retail sales of Chrysler Group small cars were up 52% compared with July 2008 and 106% versus June 2009.”

The company finished the month with 136,734 units in inventory, representing a 40-day supply. Inventory is down 68% versus June 2008 when it totaled 409,331 units.

“We’ve been working towards a ‘pull’ system by reducing our inventory, and levels are now at their lowest point in years,” Beahm added. “Consumer demand is increasing, our vehicles have the best quality in the history of the company and our manufacturing plants are running at full production to fulfill customer orders.”

Model      July 09    July 08    Change   2009 YTD     2008 YTD Change
-----      -------     -----    ------    -------     ------   ------
Sebring       2,781     3,816     -27%      13,466     51,838    -74%

300           2,292     3,818     -40%      21,591     43,832    -51%

Crossfire        37       197     -81%         355      1,291    -73%

PT Cruiser    4,092     3,297      24%      12,683     36,127    -65%

Aspen           402     1,213     -67%       5,365     14,446    -63%

Pacifica        108       447     -76%       1,835      4,642    -60%

Town &

Country      6,837     8,070     -15%      50,574     75,876    -33%

CHRYSLER

BRAND     16,549    20,858     -21%     105,869    228,052    -54%

----------   ------    ------     ---      -------    -------    ---

Compass       2,736     1,401      95%       8,498     19,794    -57%

Patriot       8,084     3,451     134%      21,582     40,135    -46%

Wrangler      4,540     6,093     -25%      53,430     52,536      2%

Liberty       2,874     3,766     -24%      26,579     44,676    -41%

Grand

Cherokee     3,520     5,239     -33%      26,610     48,032    -45%

Commander       522     2,755     -81%       6,025     19,068    -68%

JEEP BRAND 22,276    22,705      -2%     142,724    224,241    -36%

------------ ------    ------      --      -------    -------    ---

Caliber       7,814     4,807      63%      25,121     63,918    -61%

Avenger       5,616     4,318      30%      20,354     45,771    -56%

Charger       2,663     5,475     -51%      32,124     64,000    -50%

Challenger      886     2,895     -69%      15,968      3,990    300%

Viper            20        88     -77%         329        682    -52%

Magnum            0       345    -100%         113      6,594    -98%

Dakota          730     2,593     -72%       7,473     19,972    -63%

Ram P/U      17,723    21,328     -17%     112,239    150,272    -25%

Journey       4,165     3,449      21%      30,114     26,180     15%

Caravan       8,405     6,115      37%      50,152     81,920    -39%

Durango         233       384     -39%       3,060     15,293    -80%

Nitro         1,115     1,651     -32%      11,000     25,549    -57%

Sprinter        705     1,098     -36%       3,457      9,501    -64%

DODGE

BRAND     50,075    54,546      -8%     311,504    513,642    -39%

--------     ------    ------      --      -------    -------    ---

TOTAL

CHRYSLER

GROUP

LLC       88,900    98,109      -9%     560,097    965,935    -42%

TOTAL

CAR   22,109     25,839     -14%     129,423    282,986    -54%

TOTAL

TRUCK 66,791     72,270      -8%     430,674    682,949    -37%

----------- ------     ------      --      -------    -------    ---

Selling

Days           26         26                  178        179

July Brand Sales Highlights

– Dodge Journey, Avenger and Caliber and Jeep Patriot and Compass registered their best July sales ever

– Jeep Patriot sales increased 134% (8,059 units) compared with July 2008 and 192% versus the previous month

– Jeep Compass sales were up 95% (2,727 units) versus July 2008 and 183% compared with the previous month

– Dodge Caliber sales were up 63% (7,718 units) compared with July 2008 and 121% versus the previous month

– Dodge Avenger sales increased 30% versus July 2008 (5,022 units) and 143% compared with the previous month

– Dodge Grand Caravan sales increased 37% versus July 2008 and 44% compared with prior month

– Chrysler PT Cruiser sales were up 24% (2,377 units) compared with July 2008 and 271% versus June 2009

– Mopar posted a U.S. sales increase of 9% in July compared with June 2009, which follows a month-over-month sales increase of 8% in June 2009

– Through July 2009, Mopar has launched 200 new Authentic Accessories & Performance Parts

Incentives

Demand for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles and consumer traffic continues to increase, reaching a high point for the year in July.

“Customers love our summer events, and as the 2009 model year comes to an end, the company resumes its ‘Summer Clearance’ event, offering consumers great vehicles with competitive prices and attractive financing,” said Beahm.

In conjunction with the U.S. Government’s CARS program, “Summer Clearance” resumes Aug. 4, 2009, at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships across the United States. Chrysler Group LLC will offer zero% financing for up to 72 months through GMAC Financial Services on select 2009 model vehicles, or up to $4,500 Consumer Cash to all consumers, regardless of if they have a trade-in vehicle. These incentives are valid through Aug. 31, 2009.

“Everyone shopping for a new car or truck still qualifies for an incentive of up to $4,500-even if they don’t have a vehicle that qualifies under the U.S. Government’s program,” Beahm added.

July 24, 2009 marked the start of the U.S. Government’s Car Allowance Rebate Systems (CARS) program, which offers a government credit of either $3,500 or $4,500 for trading in an inefficient vehicle that is not more than 25 years old for the purchase of a new vehicle. The amount of the credit is determined based on the fuel-economy improvement between the turn-in vehicle and the new vehicle purchased.

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