U.S. December sales fall; up from November

Posted Monday, Jan 5, 2009 at 3:08 pm in Company News

Chrysler LLC today reported total December 2008 U.S. sales of 89,813 units, up 5 percent versus November 2008 (85,260 units), and down 53 percent from the same month in 2007.

For the year, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge U.S. sales decreased 30 percent (1,453,122 units) compared with total 2007 sales (2,076,650 units). Total sales were significantly affected by the industry’s largest reductions in fleet sales, 63 percent for December and 31 percent for the year.

“Last year Chrysler and all of our stakeholders persevered through extraordinarily difficult economic conditions, made the necessary adjustments and always kept our focus on serving our customers,” President and Vice Chairman Jim Press said. “As a result, our company and our dealer network start this year stronger and better positioned to succeed in today’s marketplace.

“From a customer perspective, we see consumers selecting vehicles based on their long-term transportation needs and committing to keeping vehicles for longer periods. As a result, characteristics such as utility, flexibility, efficiency and quality will grow in importance. In terms of product focus, Chrysler will continue to invest in quality and fuel efficiency improvements on its current lineup, while developing all-new vehicles for the next generation.

“From an organizational viewpoint, we will work with all of our stakeholders to continue the restructuring our Company. We have a special bond with the American people now and pledge to continue our efforts to provide the best quality and best value in the marketplace. We are committed to help drive America forward.”

December sales highlights

All Jeep brand vehicles achieved sales growth over November 2008 sales. Jeep Wrangler, the brand’s top-selling model, marked sales growth of 15 percent (7,048 units) from November.

Sales of the Jeep Patriot were up 6 percent in December (2,597 units) compared with November 2008. Year-to-date, Patriot sales grew 38 percent to reach 55,654 units.

Minivan sales gained momentum from November. Chrysler Town & Country sales in December grew 9 percent (8,152 units) and Dodge Grand Caravan sales increased 14 percent (6,927 units).

Dodge Ram light duty pickup sales were up 10 percent (10,601 units) compared with November 2008, fueled by the availability of the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram.

The company finished the month with 397,569 units of inventory, or a 115-day supply. Inventory is down 9 percent compared with December 2007 when it totaled 438,390 units.

January incentives

Chrysler continues to offer customers highly competitive discount and financing programs to kick off 2009. In addition to offering discounts of up to $6,000 on 2008 model year vehicles and up to $3,000 on 2009 model year vehicles to all customers, the company also is working with Chrysler Financial and additional financing companies around the country to create packages that offer customers a wide range of options for lease and purchase financing. On select 2008 models, zero percent financing is available for 72 months, and rates as low as 1.9 percent APR are available on select 2009 models.

For the new year, Chrysler has entered into a partnership with credit unions across the nation to offer an additional $500 to $1,000 discount when any of the 90 million members of credit unions purchase or lease a new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle. This program was successfully piloted in December in 12 states.

Ram hauls in Truckin’s ‘Truck of the Year Award’

Posted Tuesday, Jan 6, 2009 at 10:41 am in Company News

The game-changing all-new 2009 Dodge Ram continues to win praise by consumers and media. The all-new Dodge Ram was named 2009 Truck of the Year in the current issue of Truckin’ magazine.

“It’s an honor to have Truckin’ magazine recognize our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram with this significant award,” Scott Kunselman, Vice President—Jeep®/Truck Product Team, said. “This award speaks loudly about the design and capability of our Dodge Ram along with its benchmark interior and unmatched ride and handling.”

“Overall, the sleek design represented the most dramatic change in Ram design since the ‘94s love-it-or-leave-it big-rig look, and we think it’s a hit,” Bob Ryder, senior tech editor, Truckin’, said. “The Dodge Boys have really done their homework on this one. The quality of materials, including wood trim, chrome accents and leather is miles ahead of the previous generation and really makes the Dodge look luxurious.”

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram includes the first-in-segment RamBox™ cargo management system that includes versatile, weatherproof, lockable, illuminated, drainable storage bins, pickup bed dividers, a 2-foot bed extender, and a cargo rail system with sliding adjustable cleats. The 2009 Ram also includes the first-in-segment coil-spring, five-link rear suspension fitted to a solid rear axle providing ride and handling not found on any other pickup truck. A new 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine with fuel-saving MDS technology provides more horsepower (390 hp) and torque (407 lb.-ft.) and its best-in-class aerodynamics—.387 Cd—helps improve fuel economy and performance.

In addition, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram includes first-in-segment, factory-installed 4-inch dual exhaust styled dramatically into the rear bumper, first-in-segment store-in-the-floor storage bins with nearly twice as many bins (42) than the previous model (26) and 35 safety and security technologies. Standard features include side-curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which includes all-speed traction control, trailer sway control, hill-start assist and anti-lock brake system (ABS). Significantly upgraded interiors with segment-first surround-sound audio system and live Siriius Backseat TV round out the interior.

Recently, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab earned five-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program.

In addition to winning Truckin’s magazine’s top honor, the all-new Dodge Ram has picked up several key awards since its introduction:

Ward’s AutoWorld: Ward’s 10 Best Engines of 2009 (2009 Dodge Ram 5.7 HEMI engine)

Texas Auto Writer’s Association (TAWA): 2009 Full-Size Pickup Truck of Texas

Edmunds.com: Inside Line Editors Most Wanted 2009

Autobytel.com: 2009 MyRide/Autobytel Editor’s Choice Awards—Truck of the Year

Maxim: Achievement in Party-Enabling Technology (RamBox)

Automotive Journalist Association of Canada: Best New Pickup

Sobre Ruedas: Sobre Ruedas Best Pickup Truck for ‘08

Report: Chrysler Prepping More Dodge-Like Dodge EV For Detroit

jalopnick By Wes Siler, 9:30 AM on Tue Jan 6 2009, 270 views

Chrysler may be bringing an updated hopes and dreams Dodge EV to the Detroit Auto Show. What’s new? Styling going further than a badge swap and possibly four seats. So, a Lotus Evora?

Well, we don’t know for sure. First unveiled in September, the Dodge EV was the first of four smoke and mirrors-like electric concept vehicles developed by Chrysler’s ENVI program. Allegedly, the company claims it'll have one electric vehicle on the road in 2010. To cut costs, instead of developing an all-new model it’s looking to drop some batteries into an existing vehicle. In the EV’s case, that vehicle is the Lotus Europa.

Since that time Chrysler chose to unveil its future product line to a selection of media outlets that purposefully excluded Jalopnik readers. We'd been told one of the vehicles included was an electric version of the Jeep Patriot, but we'd also been told to expect a concept vehicle to be unveiled at Detroit. We guess this is it.

Now, according to the real journalists over at Automotive News, Chrysler plans to show off an updated EV in Detroit next week:

The Dodge EV shown in September was a Lotus-derived electric sports car. Look for the show version to have more Dodge styling cues and possibly be a four-passenger coupe.

Since the Dodge EV was basically just a Lotus Europa with batteries, it stands to reason a four-seat coupe version would be based on the four-seat Lotus Evora. “More Dodge styling cues?” We’re guessing that means they’ve grafted on a crosshair grille.

Is it just us, or is everyone sick of Lotus-based smoke and mirrors electric sportscars? Thankfully, Lotus says it’s developing its own EV, possibly in time for the Geneva Motor Show. [source: Automotive News]

This Day in Auto History:

1.5.1891
"Glenn Dale Angle, Chief Draftsman of the Welch Motor Car Company1909-1911 and for the Dort Motor Car Company 1916, is born in ImlayCity, MI"
1.5.1914
"The first Rayfield Cyclecar is completed amid great optimism, butonly one more car would be built"
1.5.1925
"Ralph DePalma drives a stripped down Chrysler Model B-70 touringcar 1,000 miles in 786 minutes at the Culver City, CA track to setnumerous stock car records"
1.5.1932
The Hupmobile 1931-1934 ``Stylized H'' mascot is patented bydesigner Raymond Loewy 1.5.1950 The 1950 Chryslers are introduced

This Day in Auto History:

1.4.1893
"Mason M. Roberts of General Motors is born in Anderson, IN"
1.4.1930
The 1930 Auburns are introduced at the New York Automobile Show
1.4.1944
"David W. Rodger, Vice President and Secretary of the Federal-MogulCorporation and an employee of the firm since 1915, dies at age 50"
1.4.1955
"The 1955 Packards are introduced, featuring the marque's first V-8engines and the ``cathredral'' taillights designed by Richard A. Teague"
1.4.1974
"Yves Boisset, an Argentine Peugeot official, is kidnapped byguerillas"

This Day in Auto History:

1.3.1905
"Dante Giacosa, a Fiat stylist 1928-1975, is born in Rome, Italy"
1.3.1921
The Studebaker Corporation announces that they have ended farmwagon
1.3.1928
The Packard Custom 443 is introduced along with a rumble seatcoupe and
1.3.1939
"The experimental Rolls-Royce ``Big Bertha'', a Wraith chassis witha straight-8 engine, is completed"
1.3.1944
"Robert Lacey, biographer of the Ford family, is born inGuildford, Surrey, "

This Day in Auto History: 1.2.1864 "Albert Fisher, a builder of bodies for motor trucks and an uncle ofthe Fisher brothers of General Motors, is born in Peru, OH" 1.2.1897 "A steam-powered London-built Thornycroft truck is sold to the SouthWales Motor Car & Cycle Company of Cardiff, the first sale of a motortruck in Great Britain" 1.2.1923 Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company is forced into receivership 1.2.1935 The 1935 Chryslers are introduced 1.2.1947 "Production of 1947 Cadillacs officially begins, although the carsare essentially identical to the 1946 models"

Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick