* Sales of Chrysler 300 rise 4 percent over July 2005 results *
Dodge Charger sales increase 53 percent over July 2005 results *
July retail sales increase 9 percent month-over-month versus June
2006 * Jeep Compass sales finish July at a brisk pace * Employee
Pricing Plus program continues through August 31, 2006 AUBURN
HILLS, Mich., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler Group
reported U.S. sales for July of 150,349 units, a decline of 35
percent compared to the record July sales of 240,146 units. All
sales are reported on an adjusted basis unless otherwise reported.
"This month is a tough comparison against last July when our
Employee Pricing Plus program delivered the strongest July in
company history," said Steven Landry, Vice President - Sales and
Field Operations, Chrysler Group. "However, in the face of higher
interest rates and higher energy costs, the launch of our current
Employee Pricing Plus program helped drive showroom traffic and
grow our monthly retail sales 9 percent." The Chrysler 300 posted a
solid month of sales with 10,637 units sold during July 2006, an
increase of 4 percent over previous year sales of 10,596 units.
Chrysler brand vehicles posted sales of 38,124 units, a decline of
35 percent compared to record July 2005 sales of 61,193 units.
Sales of Jeep(R) brand vehicles declined 34 percent to 35,831
units. Previous year sales totaled 56,280 units. The Jeep Compass
posted brisk sales of 707 units despite a late July availability.
Vehicles are still arriving at dealerships nationwide, and response
to the vehicle from customers and dealers has been positive. The
Dodge Charger continues to be a strong market performer with sales
of 8,074, an increase of 53 percent over July 2005 sales of 5,495
units. Sales of Dodge brand vehicles totaled 76,394 units, a
decline of 35 percent compared to previous year sales of 122,673.
Dodge Sprinter sales totaled 1,880 units, a 5 percent increase over
July 2005 sales. The Chrysler Group announces that the Employee
Pricing Plus program will continue through August 31, 2006. With
Employee Pricing Plus, customers receive employee pricing on
virtually all 2006 model year vehicles, plus zero percent financing
for 36 months (or cash back), plus the 30-Day Return Program,
allowing customers to return a vehicle for any reason within 30
days after purchase. "Consumers are wrestling with higher interest
rates and other increased household costs on a monthly basis," said
Michael Manley, Vice President - Sales Strategy and Dealer
Operations, Chrysler Group. "We have decided to continue the
Employee Pricing Plus program with employee pricing, zero percent
financing and a 30-day return program through the end of August in
an effort to address their concerns and drive dealership traffic
and sales." The Chrysler Group product offensive continues with the
imminent arrival of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Jeep
Wrangler in the next few weeks, along with the Chrysler Sebring,
Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Nitro following this fall. Chrysler Group
finished the month with 560,210 units of inventory, or a 93-day
supply and a decrease of 87,485 units from the end of June 2006.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary Thru July 2006 Month
Sales DR % Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Change Sebring 1,205
4,569 -73% -74% Concorde 0 0 0% 0% 300 10,637 10,596 4% 0%
Crossfire 233 1,364 -82% -83% PT Cruiser 9,734 13,077 -23% -26%
Pacifica 4,759 9,932 -50% -52% Town & Country 11,556 21,655
-45% -47% CHRYSLER BRAND 38,124 61,193 -35% -38% Sales CYTD DR %
Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Change Sebring 43,874 56,574 -22%
-22% Concorde 0 210 -100% -100% 300 83,772 84,167 0% 0% Crossfire
5,454 9,014 -39% -39% PT Cruiser 79,887 78,625 2% 2% Pacifica
47,227 54,694 -13% -14% Town & Country 100,443 122,293 -17%
-18% CHRYSLER BRAND 360,657 405,577 -11% -11% Month Sales DR % Vol
% Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Change Compass 707 0 0% 0% Wrangler
7,935 11,704 -29% -32% Liberty 9,702 20,245 -50% -52% Grand
Cherokee 10,124 24,331 -57% -58% Commander 7,363 0 0% 0% JEEP BRAND
35,831 56,280 -34% -36% Sales CYTD DR % Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr
Change Change Compass 707 0 0% 0% Wrangler 43,200 52,155 -17% -17%
Liberty 79,808 103,229 -22% -23% Grand Cherokee 82,995 131,865 -37%
-37% Commander 47,037 0 0% 0% JEEP BRAND 253,747 287,249 -11% -12%
Month Sales DR % Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Change Neon 361
10,049 -96% -96% Caliber 7,187 0 0% 0% Stratus 630 4,112 -84% -85%
Intrepid 0 N/A N/A Charger 8,074 5,495 53% 47% Viper 138 104 38%
33% Magnum 1,718 4,203 -57% -59% Dakota 7,468 13,567 -43% -45% Ram
P/U 32,793 48,710 -30% -33% Caravan 12,804 23,969 -44% -47% Durango
3,341 10,524 -67% -68% Ram Van/Wagon 0 76 -100% -100% Sprinter Van
1,880 1,864 5% 1% DODGE BRAND 76,394 122,673 -35% -38% Sales CYTD
DR % Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Change Neon 16,742 75,996
-78% -78% Caliber 50,881 0 0% 0% Stratus 49,194 64,302 -23% -23%
Intrepid 0 298 -100% -100% Charger 67,079 11,690 477% 474% Viper
881 897 -1% -2% Magnum 23,731 35,210 -32% -33% Dakota 47,965 69,116
-30% -31% Ram P/U 215,967 244,629 -11% -12% Caravan 138,617 150,239
-7% -8% Durango 42,212 72,671 -42% -42% Ram Van/Wagon 0 402 -100%
-100% Sprinter Van 12,222 9,755 26% 25% DODGE BRAND 665,491 735,205
-9% -9% TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP 150,349 240,146 -35% -37% TOTAL CG CAR
29,268 38,272 -20% -24% TOTAL CG TRUCK 121,081 201,874 -38% -40%
Selling Days 26 26 TOTAL CHRYSLER GROUP 1,279,895 1,428,031 -10%
-10% TOTAL CG CAR 325,795 316,797 3% 3% TOTAL CG TRUCK 954,100
1,111,234 -14% -14% Selling Days 177 178 DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group
CONTACT: Kevin McCormick of Chrysler Group, +1-248-512-6218, Web
site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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