Chrysler Sales Down 44 Percent, As Kool Aid Flows Like Water

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Yes, Chrysler LLC total sales were down 44 percent compared to February of 2008, but you wouldn’t know right away from reading Chrysler’s press release. The corporate spinmeisters have gone down the “retail sales” rabbit hole, mentioning only retail numbers in the entire release. The implication, of course, is that Chrysler doesn’t want fleet sales. Or, as Jim Press subtly puts it, “we see our retail number as a shining light of positive news.” More likely though, the fleets are beginning to abandon its ChryCo staples on fears (and experiences) of residual value hell. Ignoring the babble, the overall sales picture is atrocious.

Only Aspen and T&C emerged from February with less than 60 percent sales drops among Chrysler-brand vehicles. Wrangler was up 28 percent, but the Jeep brand was still down 32 percent overall. At Dodge, Charger and Ram were down “only” 31 and 36 percent, while the Journey sold 4,615 units in February. Blood everywhere else. And this despite news (via CNN) that Chrysler has been putting a record $5,566 average incentive on the hoods of its vehicles. Yikes. But hey, they’re down to a 100-day supply!

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Windswords Windswords on Mar 04, 2009

    BDB: "Well, on Ford’s website I see the 2010 Taurus and 2011 Fiesta, and GM keeps talking about the Volt. All Chrysler has talked about is a face lifted 300/Charger..." Dude, the volt is vaporware. And the 300/Charger? It's a new platform (LY vs current LX) Not a facelift. "The LY was to be used as the basis for three Mercedes classes: E, CLS, and R (starting in 2010-2012). We don’t know that status of that deal." http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/charger-2010.html "New versions of the 2011 Chrysler 300 and 2011 Dodge Charger will appear in calendar-year 2010, and will be made exclusively in Brampton, including models for sale in Europe. The revised Challenger may or may not lag the others. There has been no hint of a luxury version yet, but (speculation) it is possible that the 300 will be on a longer wheelbase than the Charger. (That would make room for the 200C)." http://www.allpar.com/cars/chrysler/300C.html "The Grand Cherokee? Full size SUV sales are in the tank! This isn’t 1999." Uh, the GC is a mid-size SUV. It has NEVER been full sized (unless you think a Suzuki Samarai is big). "Most car companies like to tout a game changer when it’s in development." I don't think the Ford Taurus or Fiesta is a game changer. They're just (hopefully) good cars, kind of like the new 300/Charger and GC/Durango.

  • Windswords Windswords on Mar 04, 2009

    In light of Chrysler's and GM's sales performance this past month it's time to face the facts, ladys and gents. Chrysler sales were only down 44% to GM's almost 53% and Ford's 48.4%. The Dodge brands 38% decline was less than the following automakers: Acura Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Ford GMC HUMMER Kia Lincoln Mercury Mitsubishi Pontiac Saab Saturn Suzuki Toyota Volvo Dodge was in a vertual tie with BMW, Honda, and Lexus. Chrysler was number one in Canada. If you look at pure retail sales and take out fleet, Chrysler outsold Ford. GM however is floundering. They can't get rid of their brands, nobody wants SAAB, Opel, Hummer, or Saturn. The Aussie Pontiacs have failed. The Opelized Saturns have failed. It's going to cost too much money to save GM. They are sucking all the resources from Washington that could be used to shore up Ford and Chrysler. It is time for GM to die. GM should die so that Ford and Chrysler can live. It is the way of nature. It's triage. GM has no new products in the pipeline. Volt is vaporware. Everything they have done recently (Malibu, CTS, Lambdas) has not gotten them out of the mess they are in. They don't have a gamechanger in development. Time for GM to take a dirt nap. No one will miss them. No one wants their products. They are all gas guzzlers. What car or truck does GM make that isn't already made by someone else? Maybe someone will pick up the Cadillac brand after the C7. Or the trucks. Some part of GM might live on. /sarcasm Sometimes you have illustrate absurdity with absurdity. Just remember Best & Brightest; We are not engaged in a game of "Life Boat" here. This is serious and a lot of jobs and livelihoods are at stake.

  • BDB BDB on Mar 04, 2009
    Dodge was in a vertual tie with BMW, Honda, and Lexus. Chrysler was number one in Canada. If you look at pure retail sales and take out fleet, Chrysler outsold Ford. Dude, they're practically giving their cars away with Employee Pricing ++ and zero percent financing, and that's before you even enter the dealership!
  • Golden2husky Golden2husky on Mar 04, 2009

    Sad to say, the best Chrysler is going to be able to do in the near term is improve the interiors on the existing lineup, and perhaps a reskin or two. My guess is that the 300 will be first in line for the new bodywork. All the underpinnings will no doubt remain the same. These improvements will not save the company. Yes, the Ram seems to be a top flight truck, but that is not where the action is anymore. All the Daimler designed rides need replacement and there is neither the time nor resources for that. With the Dow below 7000, most people who have planned for the future (myself included) have seen their portfolios plummet in value. Living ATM's, I mean homes, have dropped big time. Those who have spent instead of saving can't anymore. Those who are fiscally responsible aren't buying unless they have to. Future looks a bit bleak...looks like Nocar is overpowering Mopar...sad, it really is.

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