Chrysler U.S. sales up 40 percent in February 2012

The 40 percent increase is Chrysler's largest gain since February 2008.

Chrysler Group LLC has just announced their February 2012 sales report, which saw U.S. sales of 133,521, a 40 percent increase compared to February 2011. The impressive sales increase helped make last month Chrysler Group’s best February since 2008. Chrysler’s sales gain was the auto company's 23rd-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Michigan-based automaker has surpassed industry average sales gains in each of the last 12 months. Feb. 2012 also marked the ninth-consecutive month of sales gains of at least 20 percent for Chrysler Group.

"Our product portfolio now contains some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in our company's history driving our sales up 40 percent in February," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales. "A few years ago higher fuel prices were a major threat to our total vehicle sales whereas today those higher prices have become far less of an issue. We now have 13 vehicles with an EPA-rated highway fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon or higher, and six of those vehicles get 31 mpg or higher."

Chrysler: 27,008 sales, 114 percent increase

Bolstering Chrysler’s notable February was the sale of its multiple sedans. Most impressive was the huge sales posted by the Chrysler 200 sedan, which sold 9,717 vehicles, a 315 percent increase. The company’s flagship sedan the Chrysler 300 sold 7,670 vehicles, which was a 480 percent year-over-year increase. The 480 percent jump was the 300’s fourth-consecutive month with a triple digit increase. The 300 was also just named one of the "10 Best Family Cars" of 2012 by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Chrysler popular Town & Country minivan also saw a slight 22 percent increase, selling 9,621 units in February.

Jeep: 37,312 sales, 30 percent increase

Jeep also enjoyed a strong sales increase, with its perennially popular Grand Cherokee leading the way. The Grand Cherokee sold 12,724 SUVs, a 47 percent increase in year-over-year sales. Jeep’s second best sales were posted by the Liberty, which experienced a 25 percent sales gain with 7,369 vehicles sold. The Compass and Patriot models both saw a 23 percent sales increase, selling 2,780 and 5,120 vehicles respectively. Lastly, the Jeep Wrangler registered 9,319 in sales, which was a year-over-year increase of 22 percent.

Dodge: 42,692 sales, 27 percent increase

Though not as impressive as Chrysler brand sales, each Dodge model enjoyed increased sales. The Dodge brand was led the Charger sedan, which sold 7,324 cars, a 124 percent year-over-year gain. The Dodge Avenger sedan also demonstrated strong gains, with 6,570 in sales, an 89 percent jump. Also posting strong sales were the Journey crossover, which sold 6,448 vehicles, up 28 percent and the Durango SUV (3,435 sales, 26 percent increase). Rounding out the Dodge lineup were the Caravan with reported sales of 12,668, a 20 percent increase and the Challenger muscle car, which saw 3,669 in sales, up 14 percent from last February.

Ram: 23,282 sales, 15 percent increase

Chrysler’s Ram division recorded a more humble gain in sales, lifted chiefly by the Ram pickup, which sold 22,595 units, a 21 percent increase. Despite modest Ram pickup gains, the now-discontinued Dakota pickup sold just 139 trucks, a 92 percent decline. Ram’s Commercial Van, unavailable in 2011, sold 548 vehicles.

Fiat: 3,227 sales

February 2012 proved to be Fiat’s strongest month ever, with 3,277 in sales. There is no year-to-year percentage increase available, because Fiat was unavailable in America in February 2011. The 3,000 plus in sales is a noticeable increase from the 1,911 Fiat saw in January 2012.

Photo: Chrysler