Chrysler year-over-year April sales stumble 23%

Chrysler LLC on May 1 reported total April 2008 sales of 147,751 units, which is 23 percent below the same period last year. Overall sales were most affected by slowing truck and SUV demand and a dramatic cut in daily rental-fleet sales. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

"The overall decrease in April sales, particularly of pickup trucks, demonstrates that the auto industry continues to be under pressure from the national economy," vice chairman and president Jim Press said. "Despite the economic challenges, and concern about rising fuel prices, we continue to hear from consumers that there is growing interest in vehicles that meet specific needs, such as the Dodge Journey seven-passenger crossover for families and the Dodge and Jeep fuel-efficient compact vehicles for young professionals. Our plan is to continue to focus on meeting customers' needs, and managing our overall inventory to best weather this slowdown."

Chrysler’s lineup of compact vehicles continued to connect well with consumers this month. Total compact vehicle sales of the fuel-efficient Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot, which each achieve 28 miles per gallon or better in highway driving, reached an April record 17,977 units last month, up 16 percent from April 2007.

As the spring “top-down” driving season begins, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible finished the month with 2,827 units compared with April 2007 sales of 1,447 units, a 95 percent sales increase. Also enjoying a positive month was the Dodge Charger with sales of 13,021 units in April, a 29 percent increase over 2007 April sales.

The company finished the month with 422,353 units of inventory, or a 74-day supply. As part of a planned reduction in manufacturing and capacity, inventory is down 13 percent compared with April 2007 when it totaled 482,786 units.

Chrysler LLC U.S. Sales Summary Thru April 2008
	Month Sales		Vol %	Sales CYTD		Vol %
Model	Curr Yr	Pr Yr	Change	Curr Yr	Pr Yr	Change
Sebring	5,376	7,558	-29%	35,787	28,493	26%
300	5,771	9,136	-37%	30,723	39,512	-22%
Crossfire	193	746	-74%	655	3,027	-78%
PT Cruiser	5,807	7,753	-25%	21,411	33,086	-35%
Aspen	2,135	1,964	9%	10,252	9,208	11%
Pacifica	665	8,583	-92%	3,358	25,015	-87%
Town & Country	10,723	15,701	-32%	45,104	52,572	-14%
CHRYSLER BRAND	30,670	51,441	-40%	147,290	190,913	-23%
Compass	2,804	3,239	-13%	13,204	15,077	-12%
Patriot	6,348	2,904	119%	23,596	5,832	305%
Wrangler	8,699	10,776	-19%	30,513	42,367	-28%
Liberty	6,642	9,543	-30%	29,689	33,906	-12%
Grand Cherokee	6,597	9,536	-31%	29,760	40,392	-26%
Commander	2,643	5,202	-49%	12,291	22,098	-44%
JEEP BRAND	33,733	41,200	-18%	139,053	159,672	-13%
Caliber	8,825	9,306	-5%	40,156	36,512	10%
Avenger	5,666	8,214	-31%	30,912	23,729	30%
Charger	13,021	10,057	29%	40,039	40,980	-2%
Viper	117	47	149%	389	200	95%
Magnum	433	2,389	-82%	5,787	10,814	-46%
Dakota	2,564	4,106	-38%	11,331	19,505	-42%
Ram P/U	24,206	31,503	-23%	93,068	122,816	-24%
Journey	6,667	0	0%	10,049	0	0%
Caravan	14,665	23,095	-37%	47,936	75,984	-37%
Durango	2,568	4,674	-45%	11,826	19,264	-39%
Nitro	3,299	5,637	-41%	18,654	25,334	-26%
Sprinter	1,317	1,208	9%	5,132	3,461	48%
DODGE BRAND	83,348	100,463	-17%	315,279	379,768	-17%
TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC	147,751	193,104	-23%	601,622	730,353	-18%
TOTAL CAR	39,564	49,054	-19%	185,165	188,565	-2%
TOTAL TRUCK	108,187	144,050	-25%	416,457	541,788	-23%
Selling Days	26	24		102	101