Ram and Jeep Keep FCA Rolling

FCA posted its best February in a decade and yet another year-over-year monthly sales increase – its 71^st in a row – as Ram and Jeep continued robust sales for yet another month.

Ram recorded its best February sales ever and saw the largest gain among FCA brands, with 41,890 vehicles sold, up 26% on a daily basis compared with a year ago, WardsAuto data shows. Sales days were equal year-over-year.

Overall, FCA recorded an 11.4% increase for the month on volume of 181,467 light vehicles, according to WardsAuto data.

“Continued strong consumer demand for our Jeep vehicles drove the Jeep brand to its best February sales ever, while our Ram pickup truck and Ram vans recorded their best February sales ever,” says Reid Bigland, U.S. sales chief.

Jeep was up 23% on volume of 68,228, while Dodge saw a 12% increase with 47,251 sales. Chrysler and Fiat brands continued to struggle, with Chrysler down 26% on 21,056 sales, while Fiat declined 9% for the month despite a shot in the arm from the brand’s newest model, the 500X CUV, which accounted for 1,547 units.

FCA reported nine of its vehicles set records in February, including Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler, Patriot and Compass, Ram pickup, ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City vans, and the Dodge Journey and Challenger.

Ram light-duty pickup daily sales grew 21% to 37,143 units, while ProMaster and ProMaster City vans added 4,746 for the month compared with just 1,753 a year ago.

Dodge sales were highlighted by the Grand Caravan minivan, with double the sales compared with February 2015, and increases for Challenger, Durango and Journey. The Chrysler brand posted gains in Town & Country minivan and 300 sedan sales, but lost substantial volume on the 200 midsize sedan as the model approaches the end of its lifecycle in 2017.

Compass led the Jeep brand with a 54% leap in daily sales, selling 7,203 vehicles for the month, with Grand Cherokee also seeing a 12% increase on volume of 15,380 units.

FCA says it finished the month with an inventory of 673,494 vehicles, an 88-day supply.

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