With One Month Left, Chrysler Group?s International Sales Surpass CY 2005 Total Sales
Year-to-date sales increased 14 percent (186,080 units) and have surpassed total calendar year sales for 2005 (180,088 units)
One and a half years of unprecedented consecutive monthly sales increases
Sales outside North America up 17 percent for November 2006 (18,900 units in 2006 vs. 16,175 units in 2005), and mark the best November in 10 years
Sales for all three Chrysler Group brands continued to grow
Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA / Stuttgart , Dec 05, 2006
For Chrysler Group operations outside North America, November sales gains marked the milestone of 18 consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains; and with one full month left, year-to-date sales have already surpassed the total for all of 2005.
This month was the best November sales for Chrysler Group?s International operations in 10 years, and the sale of 18,900 units marked an increase of 17 percent over the same month last year. Dodge Caliber sales accounted for much of the growth in November with 2,867 units sold (15,042 units year-to-date), while top-selling vehicles, such as Jeep? Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300C, continued to perform well.
?We are confident that we made a sound decision by increasing the number of vehicles equipped to meet the needs of customers outside North America,? said Thomas Hausch, Executive Director of International Sales and Marketing. ?This works hand-in-hand with our long-standing initiative to continuously improve customer experience, and our dealers? performance this year has been a major factor in our success.?
Chrysler Group?s year-to-date sales outside North America climbed 14 percent compared to the same time period last year with 186,080 units sold. All three of Chrysler Group?s brands contributed to this gain, with Chrysler brand sales up six percent (82,142 units), Jeep brand up one percent (77,220 units) and Dodge brand up 176 percent (26,718 units).
?All three brands working together to reach customers with very diverse needs is responsible for boosting sales. However, despite the significant gains we?ve made in some of our key markets, the competition is intense, and we must continue to work hard to maintain sales growth,? said Hausch.
Western and Central European sales, which account for the largest part of Chrysler Group?s sales outside North America, have reached 100,583 units, a 20 percent increase over the region?s 2005 sales through November. The top-three markets, Italy, U.K and Germany respectively, are all in Western Europe and continued to experience double digit sales improvement. Growth in Latin America has been another driving force in the sales increases, with year-to-date sales climbing 23 percent (33,202 units) so far in 2006. Venezuela, the highest?volume market for Chrysler Group in Latin America, ranks as the Company?s number-four market outside North America, and has seen 33 percent growth so far in 2006.
For the year, product sales were led by the Jeep Grand Cherokee, with 35,558 units sold year-to-date. It was closely followed by the Chrysler Voyager (32,616 units) and the Jeep Cherokee (24,733 units). The significant sales growth for the Chrysler 300C, 130 percent year-to-date, has landed the vehicle in the number four position with 23,283 units sold outside North America.
?We anticipate continued positive results as more new products reach dealerships in the local markets. By the end of this year, we are confident that a double-digit increase in performance is a lofty, yet attainable goal,? said Hausch. ?It means, however, that we cannot let up, and must remain dedicated to the business and needs of customers outside North America.?
Chrysler Group sells and services vehicles in more than 125 countries around the world, and Chrysler Group sales outside North America currently account for approximately eight percent of the Company?s total global sales. Vehicles available range across all three Chrysler Group brands, with limited availability on some trucks and SUV models. The Company?s operations outside North America have been experiencing year-over-year sales increases since 2004, and will continue to increase the number of product offerings, powertrain options and RHD availability through 2007.
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