FCA: Sales dip 7%; Ram tops Silverado

DETROIT -- U.S. sales for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles dipped 7 percent in March behind a slower month for Jeep.

Jeep sales fell 11 percent in March, with the Wrangler falling 21 percent. At this time last year, the older JK Wrangler was still being produced. Production ended last April.

The Ram brand hit a March record as sales improved 15 percent with 51,822 units.

For the first quarter, Fiat Chrysler's light-duty Ram Trucks improved 15 percent to 120,026 units, while Silverado sales fell 16 percent to 114,313.

Ram has been chasing the Chevrolet Silverado, which has stood at No. 2 in the pickup market.

It wasn't clear how much of the Ram sales were for the older Classic model compared with the redesigned 1500 version. FCA doesn't disclose those figures.

According to J.D. Power, the retail share mix of the redesigned 1500 has slipped in recent months, while the Ram Classic has risen. The Classic's share stood at 29.6 percent in March compared with the new model's 64.8 percent. The redesigned model closed 2018 at 67.8 percent of the mix in December.

FCA says Ram's average transaction prices continue to be strong.

Brands: Jeep down 11%; Ram up 15%; Chrysler down 38%; Dodge down 6%; Fiat down 45%; Alfa Romeo down 31%

Notable nameplates: Wrangler down 21%; Grand Cherokee up 26%; Cherokee down 23%; Renegade down 24%; Pacifica down 35%; Challenger down 19%

Incentives: $4,720 per vehicle, up 3.1% from a year earlier, ALG says.

Average transaction price: $36,259, up 6.4% from a year earlier, according to ALG.

Fleet mix: 30%

Quote: "The industry had a tough first quarter but with spring finally starting to show its face and continued strong economic indicators, such as a boost in housing sales, lower lending rates and a strong labor market, we are confident that new-vehicle sales demand will strengthen going forward," FCA's U.S. sales chief Reid Bigland said in a statement.

Did you know? Grand Cherokee had its best March ever as sales rose 26 percent to 24,665 units.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/fca-sales-dip-7-ram-tops-silverado