Cars and Drivers
Chrysler March Sales Up 8%, Not Enough for Investors
Published:
Last Updated:
Year over year, sales rose 8% at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU) in March to 213,187 units, the company’s best March sales level in 10 years. The Jeep brand posted a sales gain of 15% year over year, its best March sales ever. The Jeep Compass posted a sales gain of 53%, the Cherokee posted a monthly sales gain of 1% and Grand Cherokee sales rose 10%. Four Jeep models, the Cherokee, Compass, Wrangler and Renegade, posted their best March sales month ever.
Analysts at Edmunds.com had projected March sales at 223,636 units, up 13.4% year over year and 22.3% compared with February 2016 sales. Kelley Blue Book analysts estimated that Chrysler’s average transaction price last month was $34,484, down 0.1% compared with the average price in February and up 3.3% year over year for the month.
The company’s Jeep brand sold 82,337 units in March. Jeep has now set a sales record for 30 consecutive months. The all-new Jeep Renegade sold 8,832 units in March and has moved a total of 21,951 units in the first quarter of 2016.
Ram pickup sales rose 8% in March to 44,874 units, after posting a sales gain of 23% year over year in February. Last year, Ram sold 41,595 pickups in March. Ram pickups posted their best March sales since 2004.
24/7 Wall St.Year over year, sales of the company’s Chrysler brand fell 13%, as sales of the Chrysler 200 tumbled 68% year over year in March to 6,176. Sales of the Chrysler 300 rose 21% to 6,474 units, the model’s best March sales level in four years. The all-new Pacifica minivan is expected to hit showroom floors this month.
The company’s Dodge brand sales rose 11% year over year in March, the best since March 2014. Sales of the Dodge Caravan rose 117% to 12,925 units in March.
Chrysler projected a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of sales in the United States from all manufacturers at 17.1 million units for 2016. The Edmunds SAAR estimate calls for unit sales of 17.2 million this year.
Chrysler ended the month with an 82-day supply of inventory, down from 88 days of supply at the end of February.
Chrysler’s shares traded down about 4.6% Friday morning, at $7.69 in a 52-week range of $5.78 to $11.13.
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
