Chrysler January sales jump 16%

This morning, Chrysler Group reported January U.S. light vehicle sales of 117,731 units, 16% ahead of January 2012. The figures were the company’s best January results since 2008 and the 34th consecutive month of year-over-year improvement.

“It’s been a good week for the Chrysler Group. On Wednesday we announced full year 2012 profits of $1.7 billion and followed that today with our January sales, up 16 percent, marking our 34th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Entering 2013 our product portfolio has never been stronger with our new Ram truck picking up both the 2013 Motor Trend and the North American ‘Truck of the Year’ awards, and the introduction of our new 30 mpg highway Jeep® Grand Cherokee equipped with our new EcoDiesel engine.”

The Chrysler, Dodge, Ram Truck and Fiat brands each beat their 2012 results with Dodge’s 37.4% advance leading the way. posted year-over-year sales gains in January compared with the same month last year. The Dodge brand’s 37 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in January. Chrysler Group extended its streak in January to 34-consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains.

The Dodge Dart finished January with sales up 17.2% compared to December, marking the new car’s best month since its introduction last June. The Journey came through with its best sales month ever in January.

In addition to the record for the Journey, the Fiat 500, Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Dodge Challenger and Jeep Patriot set January sales records. Ram pickup sales were up 14% to their highest level in six years. The Chrysler 300 delivered its 15th month of year-over-year sales improvements.

Jeep brand sales fell 4.4% in January, due entirely to the discontinuance of the Liberty.

Passenger car sales accounted for 36.8% of total January volume, well ahead of the 28.5% share in January 2012

Chrysler Group finished the month with an 87-days supply of inventory (411,349 units). U.S. industry sales figures for January are projected at an estimated 15.5 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).