Chrysler Reports September Sales
1 October 1997
September Sales Cap Chrysler's Second Best Model YearAUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 1 -- Chrysler Corporation capped the second best model year in its history today, reporting U.S. sales of 164,394 vehicles in September and a 1997 model-year total of 2,310,157. "We're being measured against the best-ever Chrysler sales year," said James P. Holden, Executive Vice President - Sales and Marketing. "In spite of that, we have new model-year records for Dodge Truck, Jeep(R) Wrangler, Plymouth Breeze, and Chrysler Sebring Coupe and Sebring Convertible." The model-year sales total (October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997) was down 4 percent from 2,407,700 in 1996, the all-time record year. September sales were off 14 percent from last year's 183,664 vehicles, in part because of a decline in fleet deliveries. "Sales softened a bit after a summer that's been robust," Holden said. "But we still recorded the second best September in our history for retail sales. We also set September records for Dodge Stratus and Avenger, Plymouth Breeze and Chrysler Sebring Coupe. "Our fleet sales totals were down because the plants that build Dodge Ram Van, Ram Wagon and Intrepid are in the middle of changeover to new 1998 models. That means we aren't shipping the vehicles that comprise a significant piece of our fleet business. "We expect that this fall's launch of those vehicles and the new Dodge Durango and Chrysler Concorde will be a great kickoff for the 1998 model year," Holden said. Passenger car sales in September were 51,613, compared with 57,873 a year ago. Light trucks totaled 112,781 vs. 125,791 in September 1996. Chrysler sales for the calendar year to date were 1,745,332 through September, compared with 1,886,001 in the first nine months of 1996. CHRYSLER MONTHLY SALES SUMMARY DATA THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 MONTH CYTD 1997 1996 1997 1996 TOT VEHICLE UNITS 164394 183664 1745332 1886001 % CHG VS PR YR -14% -7% CAR DOMESTIC UNITS 51613 57070 583325 657025 % CHG VS PR YR -13% -11% IMPORT UNITS 0 803 0 4692 % CHG VS PR YR -100% -100% TOTAL UNITS 51613 57873 583325 661717 % CHG VS PR YR -14% -11% TRUCK DOMESTIC UNITS 112781 125791 1162007 1224284 % CHG VS PR YR -14% -5% IMPORT UNITS 0 0 0 0 % CHG VS PR YR 0% 0% TOTAL UNITS 112781 125791 1162007 1224284 % CHG VS PR YR -14% -5% DIVISION C/P/J/E UNITS 82014 92429 812701 891569 % CHG VS PR YR -15% -8% DODGE UNITS 82380 91235 932631 994432 % CHG VS PR YR -13% -6% SELLING DAYS 25 24 230 231 ALL CHANGES COMPUTED ON A DAILY RATE BASIS SALES REPORTING & ANALYSIS 10/01/97 SOURCE Chrysler Corporation