Chrylser Celebrates Best Month In Four Years. FIAT Leads The Charge

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Today, record March new car sales will be announced. We will keep our eyes on the numbers throughout the day, come back for details. The so far best numbers were released by Chrysler. Chrysler reports U.S. sales of 163,381 units, a 34 percent increase compared with sales in March 2011. According to Chrysler, these are “the group’s best monthly sales in four years.”

Best performing brand in Chrysler’s stable is Fiat. At least percentage-wise. Says Chrysler:

“The FIAT brand led the charge with a 642 percent year-over-year increase, setting a monthly sales record. The brand bested its previous high established in February. The brand’s Fiat 500, with its Italian design and city-friendly functionality, was launched in the U.S. in March last year.”

Such wit!


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • TireIrony TireIrony on Apr 03, 2012

    I wonder how many Fiats sold in March were Abarths. And I wonder what Fiat sales will be like once every geek who's been waiting for the Abarth has his. Still, I hope Fiat succeeds. More models, please. Of both kinds :)

    • Threeer Threeer on Apr 03, 2012

      I don't think Fiat has "sold" any Abarths yet, as they're not even at dealerships yet. I do believe they are taking pre-orders. It would be interesting to see how many advance orders there are. Interestingly, I saw two 500s on the road this morning here in Huntsville and they weren't rental cars. Since we (finally) have a dealership closer than 90+ miles away, I hope to see more of them here.

  • Alluster Alluster on Apr 03, 2012

    Fiat shouldn't have used stand alone dealerships in the first place. Using existing Chrysler Co. dealers would have given them 2 things. A wider dealer network with 30 times more dealerships. 2: gets new buyers into Chrysler showrooms who would have never considered Chrysler or Dodge before. This was if gas prices and 500 sales fall along with it, the dealerships wouldn't be affected much. They will sell more Ram's when times are good and more 500's and Dart's when times are bad.

    • See 1 previous
    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Apr 03, 2012

      @NYCER "500s are very popular around the world." Yeah, I know that to be true. I have seen them everywhere in Europe, not just Italy and the south of France. Portugal, Spain, the Benelux countries, Germany and a ton of them in London and Glasgow (Spadeadam). The 500 is not popular in my neck of the woods because it is too small for the wide-open spaces of the Southwest, but I thought they would have been more popular in large metropolises like NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles, CA.

  • Old Guy Old Guy on Apr 03, 2012

    It is shocking, SHOCKING that Chrysler/Fiat's press flacks would manipulate statistics to present their sales figures in the best possible light.

    • NYCER NYCER on Apr 03, 2012

      Got any facts to back that up? I didn't think so.

  • Oldyak Oldyak on Apr 04, 2012

    What did I read: 'geeks' buying the 500...... I now everyone is entitled to their opinion...but I can thing of a a lot of cars that would fit this category,but not the 500! you must have meant 'Greeks' But then again they probably love the 500. Maybe you meant:'Geek Squad'..but they drive Beetles.. or maybe your full of...... never mind..who cares Oldyak

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