Dodge, up 30 percent year-on-year, mostly drove that positive performance as the Fiat and Ram truck brands remained almost flat while Chrysler and Jeep both suffered falls.

While Chrysler Group extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains in February to 35-consecutive months, sales and shipment volumes for the first quarter of 2013 are also being somewhat negatively affected by the end of Jeep Liberty production in Q3 2012 and the on-going product launches during the quarter of the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Compass, and the new 2013 Ram Heavy Duty truck line.

Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Group, Sergio Marchionne, pointed out in the 2012 Q4 and full-year earnings call at the end of January that, due to the aforementioned vehicle launches, Chrysler Group’s first-quarter volumes are expected to be lower than the volumes reached during the same quarter in 2012.

“In spite of a cautious ramp up of some of our most popular products which limited inventory last month, we still managed to record our strongest February sales in five years and our 35th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Looking ahead, we expect to get our inventory gaps corrected over the next 90 days resulting in additional products contributing to our growth.”

February was a record-setting month for eight Chrysler Group vehicles, mostly drawn from the Dodge brand. The new Dart contributed to the positive picture but it is still struggling to connect with consumers. However while it hasn't so far been able to compete with its peer group rivals, it is building momentum slowly and was up 8 percent month-over-month. The Challenger set an all-time sales record with its 34 percent sales gain. Two additional Dodge brand models set records as well, the Avenger mid-size sedan and Journey full-size crossover each set a sales record for the month of February.

Two Jeep brand vehicles had record-setting February sales. The Patriot compact SUV and Wrangler each set sales records for month of February, as did the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan and Fiat 500, although in the latter's case it was only up 2 percent year-on-year.

Ram pickup truck sales increased 3 percent in February, compared with the same month a year ago. The pickup truck was Chrysler Group’s top-selling vehicle by volume in February followed by the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan and the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 71-days supply of inventory (413,989 units). U.S. industry sales figures for February are projected at an estimated 15.5 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).