FCA Posts Strong November on Jeeps, Pickups, But Car Brands Lag

The story continues for FCA US, which posted a solid 12.1% increase in daily sales in November, driven largely by Jeep and Ram.

Car brands continue to show mixed results at best, with Fiat showing some life with a 5.8% jump daily on the back of the new 500X model, and Dodge eking out a slight 0.5% gain.

For the month, FCA delivered 174,700 light vehicles, up from the 169,435 sold year-ago, which resulted in the double-digit gain in the daily rate (two less sales days this year than last).

Jeep’s 30.3% spike on volume of 68,903 vehicles was the biggest among FCA’s brands and marked the best-ever November for the brand. The new Renegade model helped pad those results, but Jeep also posted double-digit increases by every other vehicle in its lineup.

Ram’s gain was more tempered, at 9.7% daily, but its core pickup model saw a 10.8% rise, offsetting a 9.0% dip posted by the ProMaster large van.

Dodge’s small gain came as a result of demand for its rear-drive Challenger and Charger, as well as its Durango SUV and Journey CUV, all of which recorded double-digit gains. Some of that increase, particularly in the case of the long-in-the-tooth Journey, likely can be chalked up to fleet sales, which FCA does not report separately.

More troubling for Dodge is the continued poor performance of its Dart small car, sales of which fell 25.3% daily, according to WardsAuto data.

It’s a similar story at Chrysler, with sales down 4.4% daily, and the brand’s linchpin model, the entry 200 sedan, falling 21.6% from year-ago.

Despite the two fewer selling days, FCA says the month marked its best November since 2000. Seven models set records for the month, including the Jeep Cherokee, Compass, Patriot and Wrangler, Ram pickup and Dodge Journey and Challenger.

FCA ended November with an 86-day supply of vehicles in stock on a total of 659,063 units.

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