Chrysler Posts Best July Since 2006, Despite Slip From June

Chrysler’s July sales rose 6.1% on a daily basis from year-ago, despite declining in volume from June.

July’s tally of 138,701 vehicles was off 11.2% from June’s 156,133 sum, though the auto maker says it recorded its best July since 2006. The result also was good enough for a 9.3% jump in year-to-date sales from like-2012.

Last month’s performance was mixed for individual models.

The Dodge Durango, one of 2012’s sluggish sellers, posted an 80.2% rise from July 2012, with 5,135 deliveries. Overall, Dodge delivered 41,892 vehicles for the month – down from 49,746 in June – with the Caravan minivan leading the brand with 8,583 units sold.

The Chrysler 200 midsize sedan, typically a strong seller, posted a decline of 16.0% daily from year-ago on 8,122 units (25 selling days last month vs. 24 year-ago). That volume marked a slide from 12,360 in June, but the model still was the best-selling vehicle for the Chrysler brand. Overall, Chrysler-brand sales totaled 19,978 units.

Ram trucks saw a slight month-to-month decline, but the brand posted a 23.6% year-over-year increase. All trucks and cargo vans combined for 30,677 deliveries in June.

Lack of a midsize SUV continues to pinch Jeep sales, as overall deliveries slid to 42,277 for the month, down from 44,609 in June. The tally represented a 2.3% decline on a daily basis from year-ago.

Still, Jeep claimed two of Chrysler’s top-selling models: the Grand Cherokee (15,019 units) and the Wrangler (14,404).

Fiat’s newly released 500L sedan nearly doubled its volume in its second month in the showroom, delivering 962 units. However, Fiat sold 3,783 cars overall, down 2.1% on a daily basis from year-ago.

Chrysler’s high-performance, low-volume SRT brand delivered 94 Viper coupes in July, just three models shy of its June total.

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