Light-Truck Sales Boost Chrysler’s August Performance

Light-truck deliveries, sparked by strong demand for Jeep-brand vehicles, contributed to Chrysler’s 25.9% U.S.-market sales surge in August, compared with like-2010.

The auto maker’s 129,588 deliveries bested Toyota by 106 units, according to WardsAuto data.

Light trucks last month accounted for 95,896 deliveries and a 28.7% sales boost, compared with prior-year, according to WardsAuto data. Jeep’s six nameplates supplied 42.4% of that volume with 40,613 deliveries.

In percentage terms, the Jeep Compass recorded the best sales performance of any vehicle. Demand for the small cross/utility vehicle, which benefited in model-year ’11 from an interior redesign, skyrocketed 121.6%.

The brand flagship Grand Cherokee continued the momentum it has enjoyed since its ’10-model revamp. Sales of the midsize SUV soared 70.3%, for the second-best percentage-based showing of any Chrysler vehicle.

And a Compass-platform-mate passed the 200,000-unit threshold, since its 2007 launch. The Jeep Patriot’s 5,090 August deliveries pushed its total to 204,981, which also was good for an 18.1% gain on prior-year.

Chrysler car deliveries totaled 33,692, marking an 18.5% climb. Strong demand for the Dodge Avenger midsize sedan and Fiat 500 minicar mitigated sagging clamor for the Chrysler 300 fullsize car and its Dodger Charger platform-mate.

Though both vehicles are new-for-’11, August sales of the 300 slipped 8.9%, while Charger demand plunged 39.1%.

Jeep Patriot passes 200,000-unit milestone.

However, both cars benefit in ’12 from a new 8-speed automatic transmission that promises significant fuel-economy improvement.

Sales of the Avenger platform-mate Chrysler 200, hyped and revamped for ’11, were flat.

Through August, Chrysler deliveries were tracking 22.3% ahead of like-2010, but notably slower than prior-month’s 26.9% year-over-year sales rate.

WardsAuto data is adjusted for selling days. There were 26 last month and 25 in August 2010.

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