Chrysler June sales rise 20 percent
(MoneyWatch) Chrysler Group continued its 2012 rebound, with June sales up 20 percent over the same month a year ago. The total sales of 148,811 vehicles results in the best June since 2007 -- before the financial crisis and Chrysler bankruptcy and bailout.
Sales of the company's Fiat division -- still being introduced to American consumers -- continued to rise, with more Fiat 500 cars sold in the first six months this year than in all of 2011.
Jeep also continued strong 2012 sales. The Jeep Wrangler set an all-time monthly sales record with 14,461 sold and the Jeep Grand Cherokee posted sales gains of more than 30 percent over last year.
In other divisions, the Dodge Charger and Dodge Avenger had their strongest June ever. The Chrysler Town and Country minivan posted sales gains of more than 30 percent.
Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales for Chrysler, noted that the first sales of the promising new Dodge Dart compact were included in the June results.
When all companies have reported by later today, analysts are expecting a 20 percent increase over June 2011 and a four to five percent increase over May this year. The projected annual selling rates translates to just under 14 million cars in 2012.
Total sales in June are projected to be the highest single month since May 2008.
Once again, Toyota is projected to have a huge gain of 60 percent or more over 2011, when its sales were constricted by supply disruptions after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Honda, which had similar problems last year, is projected to gain by 50 percent or more over last year.
General Motors is expected to have a gain of about 8.5 percent over last year and Ford just over four percent.
With market share, the companies are expected to remain little changed from May with General Motors at 18.4 percent, Ford at 16.2 percent, Toyota at 15.2 and Chrysler at 11.2, according to a forecast by Edmunds.com.
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