Chrysler's Sales Numbers Test Bottom Boundary of "Awful"
Chrysler has reported its May sales stats, and it's an ugly picture: overall sales fell 25 percent from last year, to 148,747 units. The Sebring is down 30 percent, the "company saving" 300 fell 59 percent, and the crotchety PT Cruiser slid 48 percent. Overall Chrysler brand sales nosedived 38 percent. Aside from the Patriot (up 82 percent), Jeep's peaked. Every other Jeep product saw double digit declines: Compass (-17), Grand Cherokee (-23) and yes, the Wrangler (-25). Dodge also died a death. While the Caliber was up seven percent, everything else cratered. The Charger faltered (-25), the Avenger retreated (-26) and the Caravan blew town (-25). Obviously all the trucks are getting trashed, from -37 percent for the Ram to -69 percent for the Durango and -56 percent for the Nitro. The only silver lining: The Dodge Boys sold 7520 units of the new Journey ( with or without puddles). If they keep up the big mo, they're looking at 87k p.a. (yes, I have a calculator). Co-Prez Jim Press put a brave face on the results, claiming "it's alright Jack keep your hands off my stack." Just kidding. (Or not.) ChryCo's "determined to provide consumers what they need and want." So keep the 300 ( available with SRT looks but without the crazy engine) and Charger, Patriot, Wrangler, and Grand Cherokee and Sebring convertible. Everything else has got to go.
Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.
More by Justin Berkowitz
Comments
Join the conversation
The 300 is an old car, it's been around since late 2004 as-is. Nearly any car outside of the characterless appliances called the Camry and Accord loses sales as years progress. The 300 is getting a redesign and for Chrysler's sake I hope they don't screw it up like they have pretty much everything else.
Where Chrysler has primarily dropped the ball is styling and product planning. Chrysler knows how to make a fantastic looking vehicle but aside from the LX RWD cars they haven't produced any, everything they have come out with looks godawful inside and out. A stark contrast to the vehicles they were producing ten years ago which at least looked appealing inside and out.
Put a fork in them. Let Carlos Ghoen pickup the pieces at the liquidation auction.
If Chrysler slides inexorably, it will be interesting to watch how things play out in Canada. Methods aside, Chrysler is hanging on tenaciously to their market share in Canada. http://www.desrosiers.ca/Monthly%20Updates/sales.pdf