Chrysler has best August in 4 years with 31% rise in sales; GM up 18%, Ford 11%, Nissan 19%

[jefferson_dem]

Source: Detroit News

Chrysler has best August in 4 years with 31% rise in sales; GM up 18%, Ford 11%, Nissan 19%

Alisa Priddle and Bryce G. Hoffman/ The Detroit News

Chrysler Group LLC's U.S. sales were up 31 percent last month, the company's best August since 2007.

Chrysler's retail sales surged up 42 percent as the Auburn Hills automaker continued to wean itself off the less profitable daily rental fleet business.

"In spite of a volatile market, Chrysler managed to significantly outperform the industry again in August with retail sales up 42 percent," said Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales for Chrysler Group. "Last month also represented our 17th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth, and on the back of our 16 all-new or significantly-refreshed products I see that trend easily continuing into the fall."

All of Chrysler's brands posted impressive gains during the month, which was Fiat's best yet. The 2011 Jeep Compass was a particularly strong performer, with sales up 130 percent year-over-year.

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Read more: http://detnews.com/article/20110901/AUTO01/109010430/Chrysler-has-best-August-in-4-years-with-31--rise-in-sales--GM-up-18---Ford-11---Nissan-19-#ixzz1WilT9qx9

[RandySF]

1. And who said "Let Detroit Die"?

[Denninmi]

2. Wasn't me.

I live here. In fact, as I type this, I'm about 4 miles from the Auburn Hills HQ of Chrysler. It was a rough few years in this region. One of my neighbors lost his job in 2009 and his wife confided in me that she was afraid to leave for work at night (she's a hospice nurse) because she thought she would come home to find that he had committed suicide. He's doing better now, seems to have resigned himself to an early end to his career, he's in his early 50s.

[RandySF]

3. I'll give you a hint.

He was Gov. of Massachusetts and his dad was Governor of Michigan.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. I purchased a 2009 Ram

I transport some big things, including lots of dog.
I also use it as my regular transportation.
It is by far, the most comfortable, easily driven, vehicle I have ever had. When the weather turns nasty, I merely turn on 4 wheel drive, and no problem. It also takes flex fuel in a jam.

If I am careful, which I am, I get 26 mpg on the highway.

[former9thward]

5. Maybe GM will pay back its bail out loans someday.

[Frances]

6. I thought they had

Am I wrong?

[former9thward]

7. They paid back the "direct" loans

That amounted to $8.1 billion to the U.S. and Canada. They did not repay 45 billion in bailout cash and it is not expected they ever will. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/21/business/main6417161.shtml

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Oh but cuts to SS/Medicare/Medicaid are on the Gawd Damn table!

:grr: :mad: :argh: :nuke:

[Frances]

9. Thanks for the clarification

[Frances]

10. Thanks for the clarification

[hughee99]

11. I'm just wondering if they'll fix the cars built by the "old GM"

They're arguing in court they aren't responsible for the suspension problems on the 07'-08' Impala because that was produced by a different company (the GM before bankruptcy).

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/19/gm-impala-lawsuit-idUSN1E77I0Z820110819