Chrysler
Group has turned in a strong month in Canada with 19,470
units sold in March, an increase of 22.2 percent over the
same month in 2009 and a performance that comfortably beat
the overall market. It was a somewhat mixed result though as
Chrysler Group car sales slumped
18.6
percent during the month, while truck sales were the driving
force behind the surge, they climbed by 34.2 percent.
Two of the top
five-selling nameplates in Canada last month were Chrysler
Canada vehicles: the Dodge Grand Caravan and the Ram pickup.
In total 145,428 vehicles
were sold in Canada last month, up 14.1 percent
year-on-year. The market leader, Ford, sold 22,018 vehicles
in March up 29.1 percent year-on-year while Toyota was up
24.5 percent to 19,792 vehicles, just pipping Chrysler
despite the recall issues. Chrysler Group however outsold
its other Detroit rival GM which suffered a dreadful month,
it saw its market share slump 22.2 percent year-on-year to
19,433 vehicles.
For the
fourth consecutive month, Chrysler Canada retail sales
posted an increase of greater than 20 percent, with March
retail sales gaining 36 percent for the month. "We made more
records in March than Motown has in the last 10 years," said
Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. "Our Ram
Trucks, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey and legendary
Jeep Wrangler were all big hits last month, posting record
sales."
Sales of
the Ram Heavy Duty pickup helped propel the Ram Truck to its
best March ever, with a gain of 101 per cent on sales of
4,841 units. "Pickup trucks are the second most popular
vehicles in Canada," said Dave Buckingham, Vice President of
Sales, Chrysler Canada. "It's no surprise that with Motor
Trend's 2010 Truck of the Year in our corner, our Ram sales
more than doubled in March over last year."
Canada's best selling selling crossover, the Dodge Journey,
posted an all-time sales record in March after its sales
rose 66 per cent on 2,239 units sold. An all-time record for
the month of March was also posted by the Jeep Wrangler with
1,160 units sold, an increase of 81 percent compared with
March 2009. The Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town &
Country continued their strong sales performance with
combined sales up 43 percent (5,774 units), also an all-time
high for the month of March. Better than eight out of every
ten Canadian minivan shoppers chose a Chrysler minivan in
March.
For the
month of April, Chrysler Canada is launching the all-new
incentive program "Why Canada Drives Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge
and Ram Vehicles." with Canadians encouraged to visit one of
the company's 440 dealerships. In addition, during this
exclusive one-month promotion, customers will be eligible
for $500 in "Why Canada Drives" Bonus Cash towards the
purchase of virtually any new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge or Ram
model. Customers will also be eligible for up to $7,500 in
Consumer Cash Discounts on nearly every Chrysler, Jeep,
Dodge and Ram vehicle. In addition, Canadians can also
receive $1,000 in Jeep Bonus Cash, providing customers even
further value on the Jeep lineup, including the Jeep
Patriot, Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited,
Jeep Liberty, Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee. In an
effort to shift its mostly-aging range, Chrysler Canada
continues to offer some of the most generous finance options
in the industry, which are combinable with all retail
discounts: the industry-first variable prime rate of 2.25
percent up to 84 months or zero percent up to 36 months on
nearly every 2010 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicle.
