Chrysler Group’s year-over-year sales rose 20% again in August to 198,379 units, the company’s best August sales level since 2002. The Chrysler, Jeep and Ram Truck brands all posted year-over-year gains in the month, with the Jeep brand posting a sales gain of 49% and its best August sales ever with 68,766 units sold.

Jeep sales were higher for the Patriot models — up 27% to 9,120 units — and the Wrangler — up 14% to 17,988 units. These venerable nameplates are basking in the glow of the Jeep Cherokee, which has been a big seller for Chrysler since its introduction last October.

The Ram pickups posted a gain of 33% year-over-year with 43,775 units sold. That is their best August since 2003. Adding in the cargo vans, Ram brand sales were up 39% year-over-year.

The company continues to claim that sales of the all-new Chrysler 200 are building. Month-over-month sales are up 39%, but year-over-year sales are down 7%. Overall the Chrysler brand is up 4% year-over-year and had its best August since 2007.

Like all U.S. carmakers, Chrysler sells more light trucks than it does cars, and its light truck sales rose 28% year-over-year in August. Car sales slipped 3% and are down 18% year-to-date in 2014. Truck sales are up 30% year-to-date and total sales are up 14% through the first eight months of 2014.

Chrysler projected a seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales from all manufacturers at 17.4 million units for 2014, well higher than last month’s projection of 16.8 million. The company ended the month with 64 days supply of inventory, down from 72 days of supply at the end of July.

Kelley Blue Book had forecast Chrysler’s August sales at 184,000 units in July, up 11.1% year-over-year. Chrysler absolutely hammered that estimate. WardsAuto had forecast a gain of 16.1% year-over-year, and that too was substantially lower than actual sales.

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