- LX Platform Sets Sales Record of 30,241 Units Combined - Chrysler
300 Sets New All-Time Monthly Sales Record - Jeep(R) Commander Up
68 Percent Over January 2006 Sales - Dodge Caliber Begins Arriving
in Dealerships; European Markets are Next - Dodge Ram Sales
Continue to be the Volume Leader for the Company - Dodge Charger
Records Best Sales Month Ever AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 1
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On the strength of several key products
and led by new product introductions, Chrysler Group reported U.S.
sales for February 2006 of 190,367 units, an increase of 3 percent
compared to February 2005 sales of 185,643. All figures reported
this month have the same number of selling days as February 2005.
"Our newest and best products carried the day for us in February,"
said Gary Dilts, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President - Sales. "The
LX platform posted sales of 30,241 units this month, our best ever.
Overall, our car business is up 19 percent, and we have the all-new
Dodge Caliber arriving at dealerships this month and attracting a
new group of customers to our showrooms." The LX platform, from
which the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum are
produced, posted a record sales month with 30,241 units sold in
February 2006, an increase over last year's sales of 17,913 units.
The all-new Dodge Caliber begins making its debut at Dodge
dealerships this month, and the positive response from the press
and the public has already attracted a new group of customers to
the Dodge brand. The Dodge Caliber is the Dodge division's first
truly global vehicle as it will spearhead the company's push into
European markets later this year. With its distinctive styling,
four fuel-efficient powertrain offerings and innovative interior
features, the Dodge Caliber is designed to appeal to global
audiences at an attractive price-to-value ratio. "With the three
products of the LX platform selling at a record pace and the
arrival of the Dodge Caliber, Chrysler Group is back in the car
business in a big way," said Dilts. Jeep(R) brand sales of 39,618
units were 11 percent better than February 2005 sales of 35,756
units. Sales of the Jeep brand were helped by the enthusiastic
reception of the Jeep Commander, which posted sales of 7,091 units.
February results for the Jeep Commander were 68 percent higher than
January 2006 results of 4,209 units and set a new sales record for
the vehicle and confirming consumers' desire for a seven-passenger
Jeep vehicle. Jeep Wrangler continued to maintain its position as a
leader in the small SUV segment by posting sales of 5,673 units, an
increase of 9 percent over February 2005 sales of 5,198 units.
Sales of Chrysler brand vehicles increased 3 percent with the
company's flagship product, the Chrysler 300, setting a new sales
record of 13,685 units, eclipsing the previous record of 13,475
units set in March 2005 and continuing its position as the dominant
leader in the Luxury Full-Size Car segment. The Chrysler Pacifica
posted sales of 8,694 units, an increase of 24 percent over sales
of 7,010 units last year. Sales of the Chrysler PT Cruiser
increased 21 percent to 10,896 units, compared to previous year
sales of 8,997 units. The distinctive Dodge Ram pickup maintained
its position as the company's sales volume leader, posting sales of
29,887 units and improving 2 percent over February 2005 sales of
29,202 units. The Dodge Ram helped Dodge brand sales remain steady
at 95,622 units compared to 96,312 units last year. The Dodge Ram
portfolio expands and builds upon Dodge's leadership position in
the truck market with the introduction today of the all-new 2007
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab at the National Truck Equipment
Association Show in Atlanta, GA. Building on Dodge's rich
commercial heritage, the all-new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab
combines commercial capability, durability and leading versatility
in a vehicle targeted at small business tradesmen, fleet customers
and traditional chassis cab users looking for more cab space,
enhanced functionality and bold styling. Sales of the Dodge Charger
set an all-time sales record for the vehicle by posting sales of
11,862 units, rising 48 percent over the January 2006 previous
sales record of 8,023 units. Vehicle lifetime sales of the Dodge
Magnum surpassed 100,000 units. With 4,694 units sold in February,
total Dodge Magnum sales reached 100,163 units since its
introduction in May 2004. "As we move into the spring selling
season, our recent product introductions like the Dodge Caliber and
Jeep Commander continue to attract new customers," said Dilts. "We
eagerly anticipate the arrival of 10 all-new products this year and
are well-positioned to offer a full range of new, distinctive
vehicles as the economy looks to gain momentum going forward."
Chrysler Group finished the month with 532,534 units of inventory,
or a 67-day supply. DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary
Thru February 2006 Month Sales DR % Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr
Change Change Sebring 7,897 7,732 2% 2% Concorde 0 36 -100% -100%
300 13,685 12,665 8% 8% Crossfire 412 902 -54% -54% PT Cruiser
10,896 8,997 21% 21% Pacifica 8,694 7,010 24% 24% Town &
Country 13,543 16,233 -17% -17% CHRYSLER BRAND 55,127 53,575 3% 3%
Wrangler 5,673 5,198 9% 9% Liberty 12,931 15,027 -14% -14% Grand
Cherokee 13,923 15,531 -10% -10% Commander 7,091 0 0% 0% JEEP BRAND
39,618 35,756 11% 11% Neon 4,007 12,390 -68% -68% Caliber 1,397 0
0% 0% Stratus 10,467 7,998 31% 31% Intrepid 38 NA NA Charger 11,862
0 0% 0% Viper 108 104 4% 4% Magnum 4,694 5,248 -11% -11% Dakota
6,260 8,250 -24% -24% Ram P/U 29,887 29,202 2% 2% Caravan 17,618
19,115 -8% -8% Durango 7,924 12,998 -39% -39% Ram Van/Wagon 0 73
-100% -100% Sprinter Van 1,398 896 56% 56% DODGE BRAND 95,622
96,312 -1% -1% TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP 190,367 185,643 3% 3% TOTAL CG
CAR 50,804 42,858 19% 19% TOTAL CG TRUCK 139,563 142,785 -2% -2%
Selling Days 24 24 Sales CYTD DR % Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change
Change Sebring 17,398 14,038 24% 24% Concorde 0 72 -100% -100% 300
26,431 22,777 16% 16% Crossfire 871 1,776 -51% -51% PT Cruiser
22,302 16,884 32% 32% Pacifica 13,763 12,246 12% 12% Town &
Country 22,990 27,587 -17% -17% CHRYSLER BRAND 103,755 95,380 9% 9%
Wrangler 9,503 8,941 6% 6% Liberty 22,205 25,994 -15% -15% Grand
Cherokee 26,383 28,286 -7% -7% Commander 11,300 0 0% 0% JEEP BRAND
69,391 63,221 10% 10% Neon 7,354 23,648 -69% -69% Caliber 1,397 0
0% 0% Stratus 20,608 16,382 26% 26% Intrepid 0 91 -100% -100%
Charger 19,885 0 0% 0% Viper 222 179 24% 24% Magnum 8,459 10,315
-18% -18% Dakota 10,843 14,339 -24% -24% Ram P/U 51,677 53,526 -3%
-3% Caravan 33,891 32,912 3% 3% Durango 15,592 21,991 -29% -29% Ram
Van/Wagon 0 131 -100% -100% Sprinter Van 2,758 1,639 68% 68% DODGE
BRAND 172,686 175,153 -1% -1% TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP 345,832 333,754
4% 4% TOTAL CG CAR 96,376 80,887 19% 19% TOTAL CG TRUCK 249,456
252,867 -1% -1% Selling Days 48 48 DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group
CONTACT: Kevin McCormick, +1-248-512-6218, , or Lori McTavish,
+1-248-512-2642, , both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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