Jeep
Leads Chrysler LLC Growth Outside
North America
Auburn Hills,
Mich./Stuttgart, Germany, Nov 7, 2007 - Jeep®
brand sales outside North America have grown 15 percent in 2007, and
the brand led Chrysler LLC sales outside North America with 79,520
units sold through October. The Company's International sales increased
14 percent (19,797 units) for the month and were up 18 percent for the
year (196,626 units). That added a 29th month to the Company's record
of consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases.
Markets with a
growing auto industry have been promising for Chrysler.
Through October 2007, sales in regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin
America and the Middle East have seen growth of 17 percent, 25 percent
and 65 percent respectively. The increased sales in emerging markets,
especially China, Brazil and Russia, have contributed significantly to
the Company's overall growth outside North America.
"It is important to
recognize opportunities outside North America to
balance the impact any one region can have on the business," said
Michael Manley, Executive Vice President - International Sales,
Marketing and Business Development. "Our focus on growth is not only to
increase sales internationally, but also to ensure that the growth is
balanced among the Company's three brands. Our continued focus must be
on developing great products that are appropriate for our markets,
world-class quality and the development of the most competitive
distribution channels."
Year-to-date, Jeep
has claimed the place as top-Chrysler LLC selling
brand with 79,520 units sold, an increase of 15 percent over the same
time period last year. Many of the recently-introduced products for the
brand have been posting solid sales. The all new Jeep Wrangler has
doubled the sales of it predecessor model, and Grand Cherokee continues
to gather strong sales numbers ranking it as the number-two selling
vehicle for Chrysler LLC outside North America.
"The expanded
portfolio for the Jeep brand has resulted in a sales
increase of more than 10,000 units so far this year, and established it
as the Company's highest volume brand outside North America," said
Thomas Hausch, Vice President - International Sales. "Replacements for
existing models, such as Grand Cherokee and Wrangler have been very
well received; and this month in Morocco, we are launching the all-new
Jeep Cherokee to International markets, which we believe will help the
brand grow its global presence even further. Overall, with 197,000
units sold year to date, we have already surpassed the total calendar
year sales for 2005, and Jeep has contributed significantly to this
accomplishment."
Despite its limited
time in markets outside North America, Dodge
vehicles claim two places out of the Company's top-five selling
vehicles in October with Caliber (number one) and Nitro (number four).
Chrysler also has two vehicles in the top-five in October - the 300C
and Grand Voyager.