Dodge Dart Already Missing Sales Targets

Chrysler Group LLC may have reported its 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains in November, but sales of its all-new 2013 Dodge Dart were down almost 18 percent, raising concern about a vehicle that has so much riding on it.

The Dart, which went on sale in August, is aimed squarely at the heart of the fast-growing compact car segment — an arena in which Chrysler has not fielded a serious contender since it pulled the plug on the Neon back in 2005. Based on the acclaimed Alfa Romeo Giulietta, it also represents the first real offspring of the marriage between Chrysler and Italy's Fiat SpA.

Last month, Chrysler sold just 4,489 Darts, almost a thousand less than it sold in October. That is significant, because the industry as a whole reported its strongest sales in nearly five years on Monday. And that has some analysts worried.

Patronus - 12/5/2012 12:17:54 PM

+1 Boost

With a name like that, it never stood a chance....

85bmw745i - 12/5/2012 1:09:28 PM

0 Boost

I think the name alone is hurting its sales. Dart just sounds stupid as a car name. How can it be taken seriously with that name. Shame because it is a very promising car. They would have been better off calling it the Neon.

LACMAN - 12/6/2012 12:28:58 PM

+1 Boost

Neon would have been the way to go.

iamdabest1 - 12/6/2012 8:21:10 AM

+1 Boost

neon always sounded like a weak sh*t box, and the dart just sounds unimpressive... they should have called it something entirely new..

85bmw745i - 12/6/2012 11:11:37 PM

+1 Boost

I agree, but Neon sounds better than Dart. Heck, they could have called it anything but the Dart, hell, even Colt sounds better than Dart.

francesco - 12/6/2012 9:07:20 PM

+1 Boost

call her Dodge RT100

TheDepressingTruth - 12/7/2012 12:44:24 AM

+1 Boost

What hurt initial Dart sales was the lack of automatic transmissions (which they are purchasing from Hyundai...who failed to deliver said transmissions)
Once you get off to a slow start...it's just that much harder to play catch up.
BTW....The name "Dart" tested very well..

Patronus - 12/8/2012 12:14:28 AM

+1 Boost

Seriously? The lack of a slush box on an Afla-Romeo (essentially), killed the sales of this car (named Dodge Dart- WTF)? If that is the case, American car-idiots did not deserve this car to begin with.

Give them Priuii- they deserve it.

Oh, and I am an American.

skytop - 12/10/2012 9:16:54 AM

+1 Boost

The Dart is a very good new design offering style, space and good driveability with an excellent interior layout as well. The entire package arrives at a low price point.

However, the Dart is facing heavy competition pressure from the Japanese compact cars which are now offering huge incentives. Japan is aggressively working to regain lost segment sales due to the tsunami that hobbled production of their auto industry.