U.S. sales of the Ram pickup were up 17% in April, the truck's best-ever April sales performance, helping the Chrysler Group LLC to sales of 178,652 units, a 14% increase over April 2013 and the best April since 2007.
Ram experienced its 48th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. Ram Light Duty sales increased 7% in April, while Ram Heavy Duty pickups were up 32%. The Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups were named "Top Rated Vehicles" by Edmunds.com during the New York International Auto Show press days last month.
In addition, the 1500 was named a 2014 Automobile Magazine All-Star by the publication's editorial staff for the second year in a row and the fourth time in the past five years. With its 77% increase, the Ram Cargo Van logged its best ever April sales, while the Ram ProMaster van posted an 11% increase compared with the previous month of March.
Ram Truck brand sales were up 22% in April, the brand's best sales in the month of April since 2006. The brand unveiled the 2014 Ram Power Wagon, the most off-road capable pickup, at the New York International Auto Show last month. Built to master the most rigorous off-road trails, the Power Wagon is based on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 4x4 Crew Cab, and features a number of off-road-specific engineering enhancements, including a unique suspension with more than two inches of lift, locking differentials and a 12,000-pound winch to give the truck a significant advantage over all production pickups.
he Jeep brand's 52% increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand during April and its best sales month ever. Chrysler Group extended its streak of year-over-year sales gains to 49 consecutive months in April.
"Strong consumer demand for our Jeep sport-utility vehicles and Ram pickup trucks continued in April as Chrysler Group extended its streak to 49 consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains," said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. "The spring selling season is heating up as our Jeep brand had its best monthly sales ever. Both of our minivans had a strong April and the Ram pickup truck had its best April sales ever."
Seven Chrysler Group vehicles set sales records in the month of April. The Jeep Compass recorded its best sales month ever. The Ram pickup truck, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, and Ram Cargo Van each posted their best sales for the month of April. Both minivans had a good month. Sales of the Dodge Grand Caravan were up 36% in April, the largest year-over-year percentage sales increase of any Dodge brand model in April, while sales of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan increased 16%.
Chrysler Group finished the month of April with a 74 days supply of inventory (505,965 units). U.S. industry sales figures for April are internally projected at an estimated 16.3 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).