FCA Runs Out Of Steam As Sales Tank By 10% In February

FCA US LLC today reported U.S. sales of 168,326 units, a 10 percent decrease compared with sales in February 2016 (187,318 units).
 
In February, fleet sales of 44,898 units were down 26 percent year over year as FCA US continues its strategy of reducing its sales to the daily rental segment. Fleet sales represented 27 percent of total FCA US sales in February. FCA US retail sales of 123,428 units were down 3 percent for the month, and represented 73 percent of total February sales.
 
Ram Truck brand sales were up 4 percent in February, compared with the same month a year ago. Three Jeep® brand vehicles topped February sales from a year ago, including the Jeep Renegade with an 11 percent increase. Sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the brand’s volume leader in February, were up 11 percent as well. Three Dodge brand vehicles recorded year-over-year sales increases in February led by the Dodge Journey’s 55 percent sales gain. Sales of the Fiat 500 and the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan were up year over year as well.
 
Ram Truck Brand
Ram Truck brand sales were up 4 percent in February, compared with the same month a year ago. Sales of the Ram pickup truck increased 5 percent year over year in the month. The brand introduced new special-edition Night packages for Ram 2500 and 3500 HD pickup trucks at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show in February. The new Night editions further expand the Ram factory-custom truck family from the half-ton Ram 1500 announced in September 2016 to the brand’s three-quarter and one-ton models. Production of the 2017 Ram HD Night models began in early February.
 
Dodge Brand
The Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, and Dodge Viper each posted sales gains in February, led by the Journey’s 55 percent year-over-year increase. The Challenger turned in a 19 percent increase, while Viper sales were up 23 percent in the month. The Dodge brand unveiled the new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT – America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV – at last month’s 2017 Chicago Auto Show. In addition, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com announced at the show that the Grand Caravan earned its 5-Year Cost to Own Award in the minivan category for the third time in four years. The awards honor the vehicles and brands (luxury and non-luxury) with the lowest projected ownership costs, based on Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period.
 
Jeep Brand
Three Jeep brand models recorded sales increases in February. Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee – the brand’s volume leader for the month – and the Jeep Renegade posted 11 percent year-over-year sales increases. In addition, the Jeep Wrangler logged a 2 percent increase in February. Jeep brand retail sales were up year over year in February. The latest Wrangler – the new 2017Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon – debuted at the Chicago Auto Show last month, featuring improved off-road prowess with a stronger front axle, enhanced rock rails and heavy-duty cast differential covers. Also last month, KBB.com announced at the Chicago Auto Show that the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited earned its 5-Year Cost to Own Award in the Mid-size SUV/Crossover category for a third-consecutive year.
 
FIAT Brand
Sales of the Fiat 500 were up 1 percent in February, compared with the same month a year ago. Sales of the new Fiat 124 Spider were up 26 percent compared with the previous month of January. The 124 Spider was named in February as one of the Best Cars for the Money in the Sports Car category by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, according to the valuation experts at Hagerty, is one of 10 vehicles this year that stand out as the likeliest to grow in value and appeal to classic car enthusiasts. That puts the 124 Spider Abarth on the “Hagerty Hot List” for 2017. 
 
Chrysler Brand
Sales of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica – the most awarded minivan of 2016 and 2017 – were up in its second month of year-over-year comparisons, and increased 36 percent compared with sales in the previous month of January. The Pacifica continues to earn a plethora of awards and accolades in 2017. In February, the Pacifica was named Best Minivan for the Money by U.S. News & World Report, 2017 Family Vehicle of the Year by the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), and MotorWeek’s 2017 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Minivan. The Chrysler 300 full-size sedan turned in a 2 percent year-over-year increase in February.
  
Alfa Romeo Brand
Alfa Romeo brand sales of 443 units were up 843 percent compared with the same month in 2016.
 
Maserati Brand¹
Maserati brand sales of 1,087 units were up 49 percent compared with the same month a year ago.

MDarringer - 3/2/2017 8:39:44 AM

+1 Boost

With no convincing products generating big sales outside of Jeep and Ram, FCA's implosion will happen sooner or later.

Hyundai-Kia no doubt has the check written for Jeep and Ram.

mini22 - 3/2/2017 9:45:42 PM

+1 Boost

I hate to say it but I am forced to agree with you. Marchione clearly does not believe in quality control. If he pulls this crap with Alfa Romeo he will have blown 5 million of FCA money. I think Fiat can perhaps make money in Europe but no where else. If Marchionne commits to Alfa then FCA should be simply Jeep/Ram/Alfa Romeo worlwide.

mini22 - 3/3/2017 1:39:08 AM

+1 Boost

I'm making a bold assumption that quality and reliability will be better on an Alfa Romeo than on any Fiat. Yes I said it was a bold assumption. I'm making this based on the amount of money FCA has thrown at Alfa Romeo. Since Fiat was always going to be a low cost brand FCA is essentially doing Fiat as cheaply as they can get away with. However it has clearly not worked in North America. Enough negative reports of reliability and quality has kept people away from Fiat in droves. Even assuming this was not an issue Fiat was never going to sell like Mini. Further Mini does not sell enough vehicles either but they are succeeding where Fiat is failing. I think it is too late to resuscitate. I predict that Marchione is going to cease importing Fiat after 2017. Fiat will still sell in Europe. Perhaps Fiat will keep the 124 spider or rebadge it a Dodge. However I just don't see how Fiat can keep going in the USA with these dismal sales figures. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they will try to merge the 124 with Alfa Romeo somehow. The writing appears to be on the wall. Selling small fuel efficient cars is difficult enough in the US now that gas prices have dropped. The EV 500 I assume is not selling either probably due to it's dismal mileage range.