Chrysler retail sales amounted to 66,658 units, a 26 percent decrease over the same period in 2008, while the total retail industry went down a projected 35 percent. Total February 2009 U.S. sales include a fleet reduction of 71 percent year-over-year for the same period in 2008.
"We see our retail number as a shining light of positive news," gloated Jim Press, Chrysler CEO. "By working together with our strong dealer body, we will continue to move the needle on sales and service. Additionally, our focus on quality is evident in the 2009 Dodge Ram, which continues to demonstrate our ability to improve the quality of our products. Recently reported data is not representative of the positive progress Chrysler has made over the last year. In the last 12 months, our corporate warranty claim rates are down over 30 percent."
The past month, however, had its highlights. The second month of the year registered a 26 percent increase in retail sales over the disastrous last January. This allowed Chrysler to rank second in this market segment among the Big Three.
As both retail and fleet market are concerned, the company's total February U.S. sales registered a 44 percent plunge. Chrysler finished the month with a 350,966 units inventory, representing a 100 day supply, 20 percent lower than in the same period of 2008.
When all other reasons for joy melted away with the winter snow, Chrysler finds relief in the fact that it has the lowest level of inventory of its domestic competitors. The "I'm doing bad, glad to see you're doing worse" thinking pattern.
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