Chrysler Group gains 14% in November on strong car, pickup sales
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DETROIT -- Chrysler Group relied on growing sales of sedans and coupes to boost sales 14 percent last month to 122,565 units, its best November since 2007.
It was Chrysler's 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.
The company said its car sales were up 27 percent for the month to 36,570 units, behind strong sales of the Dodge Avenger and Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans.
Sales of the Fiat 500 more than doubled to 3,603 units, up from 1,618 units during the same month a year ago.
Sales of other Chrysler Group vehicles -- including high-volume Ram pickups and Jeep SUVs -- rose 10 percent in November. Jeep sales fell 3 percent in November, the only Chrysler brand to post a loss for the month.
Reid Bigland, head of the Dodge brand and U.S. sales for Chrysler, said the automaker and the rest of the industry continued to grow in November despite contentious budget negotiations in Washington.
"I think we got a little Superstorm Sandy snap-back in the Northeast, but it's really not slowing down new-vehicle sales in the United States," Bigland said late last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
He predicted Chrysler Group sales will continue to grow in December, thanks to the rollout of the re-engineered 2013 Ram pickup and the automaker's annual Big Finish promotion.
According to data from Truecar.com, Chrysler's average transaction price rose 2.5 percent in November compared with last year to $29,796, while its average incentives declined 22 percent to $2,526 per vehicle.
Jeep brand sales declined for the month because of falling sales of the Liberty -- production ended in August -- and the Compass, and despite the Wrangler posting its best-ever sales for November at 10,337 units, up 12 percent. Sales of the Grand Cherokee were up 1 percent for the month to 13,619 units.
Sales of the Chrysler 200 were off 9 percent for the month to 7,371 units. The mid-sized sedan is at the end of its life cycle and due to be replaced next year.
You can reach Larry P. Vellequette at lvellequette@crain.com.
