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The new Jeep Grand Cherokee has received a Top Safety Pick award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. – the highest rating the organization bestows. “The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the first production vehicle to launch since our alliance with Fiat and a ‘Top Safety Pick’ is a great way to start our 2011 product offensive,” said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President – Engineering, Chrysler Group. “IIHS’ recognition of five products underscores Chrysler Group’s engineering capability and leadership in occupant protection.” The Grand Cherokee joins the Dodge Journey and Avenger, Chrysler Sebring Jeep Patriot as 2010 Top Safety Picks, according to IIHS.

Chrysler Canada has announced a 53 percent year-on-year sales increase, with 20,887 units sold last month (May 2009: 13,657 units). For the year-to-date Chrysler Canada's sales are 28 percent ahead of last year's level. It also means that for the sixth consecutive month, the carmaker's retail sales increased more than 20 percent.

"After awhile things have a tendency to get old, but retail sales up over 20 per cent for the last six months in a row isn't one of them," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. "Sales of our current vehicles are booming and orders for our all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee are quite strong - the additional manufacturing shift can't come soon enough."

Sales Highlights

Four Chrysler Canada vehicles recorded their best-ever May sales results - Dodge Journey, Ram pickup, Jeep Wrangler, and Dodge Challenger. Sales of the Ram pickup were 26 percent over the May 2009 level, with 4,401 units sold (May 2009: 3,505). Ram sales exceeded the previous month-of-May record, set in 2007, by a solid 13 percent.

Canada's No. 1 selling crossover - the Dodge Journey - posted sales of 1,903 units, an increase of 56 per cent over the same month last year. Minivan sales continued to skyrocket, nearly doubling last year's pace with 5,773 vehicles sold (May 2009: 2,993 units). The Dodge Grand Caravan is the second best-selling vehicle in the country and the company's highest-selling model.

Jeep Brand vehicles posted a sales increase of 74 percent over May 2009. Jeep Wrangler sales grew 94 per cent on 1,566 units sold. The Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot saw sales increases of 59 and 141 per cent respectively. Sales of Chrysler Canada cars grew 57 percent, led by the Dodge Caliber. The Caliber recorded sales of 1,741 units, up 188 percent compared with the same month last year. The Brampton-built Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger also had an extremely strong month, with combined sales of 1,404 units, an increase of 41 percent over last year.