FCA: Sales fall 10% despite Ram boost
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Fiat Chrysler extended its losing streak to six consecutive months in February, falling 10 percent with only Ram brand pulling out a small sales gain in the month.
The company said it had 168,326 sales in February, down 10 percent from a revised February 2016 tally of 187,318 under its new sales reporting methodology. Against the company’s originally reported Feb. 16 sales, last month’s sales still would be off by 8 percent. The company said fleet represented 27 percent of its total sales for the month.
Ram was the only bright spot among the automaker’s mass-market brands, rising 3.6 percent as a gain in sales of the Ram pickup line offset losses from the ProMaster and ProMaster City commercial vans.
Dodge had the smallest sales decline among FCA brands in February, falling 6.6 percent almost entirely on the selldown of the discontinued Dodge Dart compact sedan. Sales of the Charger and Durango fell, while Challenger and Journey sales each rose.
Jeep sales continued to decline in February, dropping 15 percent on a continued sell-down of the now discontinued Jeep Patriot and older-style Compass. The redesigned Jeep Compass -- which will replace the two outgoing models -- has yet to arrive at U.S. dealerships. Cherokee sales continued to slide, dropping 11 percent, while sales of the Renegade and Grand Cherokee both rose by 11 percent.
Chrysler brand sales fell 28 percent last month on the continued sell-down of the discontinued Chrysler 200 sedan and Town & Country minivan. The 300 sedan edged out a small gain while the automaker sold 9,042 Pacifica minivans.
Fiat sales dropped another 19 percent last month, despite a slight gain in sales of the 500 minicar. The company said only 72 Fiat 500L hatchbacks were sold nationwide last month.
Among its luxury nameplates, FCA said it sold 412 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedans in the month. The car began arriving at dealerships at the very end of December. Meanwhile, Maserati said it had 1,087 U.S. sales in February, a 49 percent increase.
FCA said it ended the month with 578,818 unsold vehicles in inventory, an 83-day supply.
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