Stellantis' U.S. sales fell 18 percent in the fourth quarter as the automaker contended with the global microchip shortage and an ongoing pandemic, while 2021 deliveries dipped 2 percent.
But in the all-important and profitable U.S. pickup segment, Ram scored key wins over the rival Chevrolet Silverado. Ram delivered 134,616 pickups in the fourth quarter compared with 112,508 Silverado sales. For the year, Ram delivered 569,388 pickups compared with 519,774 Silverado deliveries. Ford's F-Series still won the segment with 191,173 deliveries in the quarter and 726,004 for the year.
Stellantis said fleet sales fell 8 percent in the fourth quarter and 13 percent overall last year as the company prioritized retail customer orders. It was a year that saw Stellantis unveil a series of new products, including three-row entries with the Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee L.
Ram and Chrysler posted gains in 2021, but Jeep fell 2 percent after a fourth quarter that saw the brand's sales slip by 19 percent. Jeep volume took a hit after a sporadic production schedule and shift cut last year at Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which assembles the Cherokee.
Sales for 2022 will get assists from new and redesigned models such as the two-row Grand Cherokee and its 4xe plug-in hybrid variant along with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, a plug-in hybrid crossover.
The Jeep Gladiator midsize pickup, on sale since 2019, had its best year in 2021, with 89,712 deliveries, good enough for a 16 percent increase from the previous year.
Brands: Fourth quarter: Alfa Romeo, down 33%; Chrysler, up 18%; Dodge, down 36%; Fiat, off 64%; Jeep, down 19%; Ram, off 16%. 2021: Alfa Romeo, down 2%; Chrysler, up 4%; Dodge, down 19%; Fiat, off 45%; Jeep, down 2%; Ram, up 4%
U.S. market share: 11.9% in 2021, down from 12.5% in 2020.
Notable nameplates: Fourth quarter: Jeep Grand Cherokee, up 31%; Gladiator, down 11%; Wrangler, down 22%; Ram pickups, down 17%; Chrysler 300, down 60%; Pacifica, up 32%; Dodge Durango, up 5.1%. 2021: Grand Cherokee, up 26%; Gladiator, up 16%; Cherokee, down 34%; Ram pickups, up 1.0%; Pacifica, up 4.8%; Dodge Charger, up 1.2%; Challenger, up 2.6%; Durango, up 14%; Alfa Romeo Stelvio, up 2.5%.
Incentives: $2,501 per vehicle in the fourth quarter, down 46% from a year earlier, TrueCar says.
Average transaction price: $49,647 in the fourth quarter, up 14% from a year earlier, according to TrueCar.
Fleet mix: 19.1% in December, up 15.1% from the year-earlier period, according to TrueCar.
Quote: "2021 had unique challenges driven by the various supply chain issues, but our dealers didn't let that slow them down, and we're proud of their sales performance," said Jeff Kommor, Stellantis' U.S. head of sales. "As we head into the new year, demand for our vehicles continues to be strong and our inventory is improving."
Did you know? The Pacifica minivan had its best fourth quarter, with 38,821 deliveries. Stellantis trailed General Motors by just 23,145 cars and light trucks in the fourth quarter.
