FCA US Turns in Strong April Performance With 6.3% Gain

FCA US sales jumped 6.3% in April vs. year-ago on a daily rate basis to 189,027 units, marking the automaker’s best April performance since 2007.

The Chrysler, Jeep and Ram brands posted increases of 26.0%, 20.1% and 6.7%, respectively. Chrysler’s performance extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 61 consecutive months.

Deliveries of the Chrysler 200 midsize sedan skyrocketed 348.4% to 18,850 units, the largest year-over-year percentage gain of an FCA US vehicle in April.

Jeep’s performance was led by the Cherokee, which posted a 27.1% increase vs. year-ago. Grand Cherokee deliveries inched up 2.4%, while the all-new Renegade sold 4,214 units.

“Our all-new Jeep Renegade SUV is off to an exceptional start with more than 4,200 units sold in its first full month in the market, helping to propel our Jeep brand to its best monthly sales ever,” Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales, says in a statement.

Ram, which includes the fullsize pickup and ProMaster, ProMaster City and cargo van utility vehicles, marked its best April since 2005. ProMaster deliveries increased 43.1%, while pickup sales rose 5.9%.

Fiat deliveries plummeted 12.6%, with sales of the 500 small car plunging 17.9%, while 500L deliveries were flat. The Fiat 500X, just now hitting the market, is expected to be a volume seller for the brand.

Dodge recorded a poor performance in April, with sales falling 32%. However, Dart deliveries increased 42.3%, while Charger and Challenger sales jumped 12.0% and 32.2%, respectively.

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