Chrysler Leads Automakers in Sales Increases

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – All three American automakers report sales increases in April, with Chrysler leading the way with a 6% jump. Both Ford and General Motors say sales increased about 5%.

For Chevrolet, sales of the Lordstown-built Cruze continued to tumble, totaling 20,947 last month, a 3.7% drop from April 2014. It was the third straight month of year-over-year sales drop for the model.

The top selling Chevy was the Silverado pickup truck, with 45,978 sold, a 7.5% jump from a year ago.

GMC sales rose 20% behind a strong month from the Sierra truck, which sold 18,082 last month. Cadillac sales were up 13.7% in April, reaching 15,801 cars and crossovers sold. The SRX crossover was the brand’s best-selling vehicle with 6,390 sold. The only GM brand to see a decrease in sales was Buick, which sold 18,224 cars and SUVs last month, a 5.2% drop from last year.

Ford reported its best April in nine years with domestic sales climbing 5% to reach 222,498 cars and trucks sold. Leading April sales for the nameplate was the F-150 with 62,827 trucks leaving showrooms, a nearly 1% decline from April 2014. The best selling car was the Fusion with 24,954 sold in April, a 5.6% decline from last year.

Lincoln deliveries were up 19.6% last month, totaling 8,134 cars and SUVs, behind a push from the Navigator line. Sales of the SUV climbed 36.4% compared to a year ago, totaling 919. The luxury brand’s top seller was the MKZ with 2,915 sold.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles saw a 6% climb in sales last month, with 189,027 vehicles sold. It was the 61st consecutive month of year-over-year gains for the company and the best April since 2007.

Sales of the Chrysler brand rose 26% over a year ago, with 27,704 cars and vans sold. The 200 was Chrysler’s top model with 18,850 sold, a 348% increase from April 2014 when the redesigned 200  was rolling out.

Jeep sales reached 71,759 in April, a 20% increase from the same month last year. The top model for the off-road brand was the Cherokee with 19,072 hitting the streets, a 27% jump from last April. Dodge sales continued to fall as sales were down 16% last month to 44,906 vehicles after a 24% decline in year-over-year sales March and 15% drop in February.

Pictured: Chrysler 200.

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