FCA August 2018 Sales - Up 10%

[Anthony]

FCA US Reports 2018 August Sales

• Ram brand achieves highest August ever
• Ram light-duty pickup posts highest month of total sales ever
• Jeep® Wrangler sales set new August record
• Alfa Romeo sales increase 96 percent

September 4, 2018 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported sales of 193,718 vehicles, a 10 percent increase compared with sales in August 2017 of 176,033. Overall, FCA US retail sales rose 17 percent to 164,727 vehicles. Fleet accounted for 15 percent of total sales.

Sales were led by both the Jeep® and Ram brands. Ram posted two new records for the month.

“Our August results highlight how the all-new Ram light duty is coming into its own,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Ram light-duty total sales rose 55 percent to 36,798 vehicles for the month.”

Jeep Brand
Jeep brand sales rose to 87,502 vehicles. Four of the brand’s five nameplates reported increases, but it was the Wrangler that set a new August record. Sales reached 20,168 vehicles eclipsing the previous record of 18,276 vehicles set in August 2015. It was also the sixth consecutive month Wrangler sales have surpassed the 20,000 mark.

Ram Brand
Ram brand sales rose 27 percent to 54,808 vehicles compared with the previous year. It was the best August since the Ram brand was first created in 2009. The previous record was in 2016 when sales reached 44,419 vehicles. Total sales for the Ram light-duty 1500 reached 36,798. It was the highest month of sales for the light duty ever since the Ram brand was launched. The previous record was in May 2018 when sales reached 33,060.

Alfa Romeo Brand
Alfa Romeo brand sales of 2,240 vehicles were up significantly compared with the same month a year ago. Stelvio led the brand with 1,271 vehicle sales.

Chrysler Brand
Chrysler brand total sales declined 3 percent to 12,219 vehicles compared with the same month a year ago. The Pacifica rose 20 percent to 9,167 vehicles.

Dodge Brand
Dodge brand total sales fell 18 percent to 35,575. Dodge Journey sales rose 28 percent to 7,243.

FIAT Brand
Sales of Fiat declined 35 percent to 1,374 vehicles.

 

 

 

 

[rmc523]

Ram right near 50K for the month.

 

 

And how in the world are there still Avengers out there? It's getting ridiculous at this point.

[atomcat68]

Ram right near 50K for the month.

 

 

And how in the world are there still Avengers out there? It's getting ridiculous at this point.

 

… and soon the Avenger will be outselling the Fiat brand!

[Assimilator]

I never get tired of looking at these number. It tells you everything you need to know about Ford's small car position and how badly out of step Ford currently is. We could also use GM as an example on how to tackle the small utility market.

 

YTD:

 

Jeep Small Utility Sales (Renegade, Compass, Cherokee): 340,121

Ford Small Car + Small Utility sales (Focus, Fiesta, EcoSport, Escape): 349,682

 

Jeep is achieving in 3 SUVs what Ford is doing with 2 SUVs and 2 Cars today. GM absolutely crushes Ford on total utility sales across the board in every category from Subcompact, Compact, to Full-size. GM is just now overtaking Ford on midsize.

 

Ford's position is getting much weaker as they cancel Focus and Fiesta while Jeep is still growing so they will easily overtake Ford on small vehicle sales this year, although Ford obviously dominates in other areas. But in this area of the market, Ford has an outstanding example to follow from both GM and Jeep. Unfortunatley I believe EcoSport + Maverick is a weaker duo than Compass + Renegade or GM's ever expanding selection of sub-compact utilities which are going to be all-new next year and expanded further with another Chevy subcompact utility just below the NG Trax.

 

This is why Ford needs to completely get away from cars, they have these enormous volume holes in their utility range and they need the resources to tackle it. They are already two generations behind their competitors in these segments and they won't be in a position to match where they are today until 2023, let alone where everybody will be then. No company is more poorly positioned in these segments than Ford which is what is making their move away from small cars so jarring. There's no way they can avoid shedding nearly all of those customers which makes their decisions seem reckless. But in Ford's case, they have to do one thing before they get to another and they are successfully holding the corporate marketshare with other more profitable products.

 

Either way, Ford is executing car products to catch up to their competitors today, it's really not about the future at all...Ford still has to get to the present.

Edited September 4, 2018 by Assimilator

[silvrsvt]

 

 

Jeep is achieving in 3 SUVs what Ford is doing with 2 SUVs and 2 Cars today. GM absolutely crushes Ford on total utility sales across the board in every category from Subcompact, Compact, to Full-size. GM is just now overtaking Ford on midsize.

 

Ford's position is getting much weaker as they cancel Focus and Fiesta while Jeep is still growing so they will easily overtake Ford on small vehicle sales this year, although Ford obviously dominates in other areas. But in this area of the market, Ford has an outstanding example to follow from both GM and Jeep. Unfortunatley I believe EcoSport + Maverick is a weaker duo than Compass + Renegade or GM's ever expanding selection of sub-compact utilities which are going to be all-new next year and expanded further with another Chevy subcompact utility just below the NG Trax.

 

 

I'd hope GM would be selling more than Ford-but they also have 2-3 brands selling the same product, which cuts into profit of those said vehicles.

 

There is really no need to have a GMC when a Chevy product can occupy the same price range.

[fuzzymoomoo]

 

I'd hope GM would be selling more than Ford-but they also have 2-3 brands selling the same product, which cuts into profit of those said vehicles.

 

There is really no need to have a GMC when a Chevy product can occupy the same price range.

Same can be said for Buick Edited September 5, 2018 by fuzzymoomoo

[Assimilator]

 

I'd hope GM would be selling more than Ford-but they also have 2-3 brands selling the same product, which cuts into profit of those said vehicles.

 

There is really no need to have a GMC when a Chevy product can occupy the same price range.

 

 

That's not the case, GM is getting far greater volume and higher ATPs than it could from one brand, and they are certainly getting more volume than Ford on a per-platform/segment basis. GM is ultimately far more profitable than Ford and better positioned in more segments, even better positioned than Ford in Trucks. Ford is still a standout when it comes to F-Series and Transit but GM has a far more successful grasp of utilities and luxury and much of that happened relatively recently.

 

I'm confident Ford is doing the right things by downsizing before they rightsize their business, and I certainly believe Ford is securing its future on a much more focused and innovative scale, but Ford is by no means running more efficiently than GM right now.

 

I still believe Ford has some of the best products in Detroit and will have some clear standouts next year.

Edited September 5, 2018 by Assimilator

[Fgts]

 

 

YTD:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is why Ford needs to completely get away from cars, they have these enormous volume holes in their utility range and they need the resources to tackle it. They are already two generations behind their competitors in these segments and they won't be in a position to match where they are today until 2023, let alone where everybody will be then. No company is more poorly positioned in these segments than Ford which is what is making their move away from small cars so jarring. There's no way they can avoid shedding nearly all of those customers which makes their decisions seem reckless. But in Ford's case, they have to do one thing before they get to another and they are successfully holding the corporate marketshare with other more profitable products.

 

Either way, Ford is executing car products to catch up to their competitors today, it's really not about the future at all...Ford still has to get to the present.

The problem from FCA to Ford is the LXs are getting a major redesign for 21'-22' with a AR midsize Dodge sedan back in the line-up, of course it's not as major as the trucks but icing on the cake as some carbuyers may feel alienated by Ford, OTOH Ford may have a trick or so up it's sleeve with CD6 for car only buyers in the early 20's.

[silvrsvt]

 

 

That's not the case, GM is getting far greater volume and higher ATPs than it could from one brand, and they are certainly getting more volume than Ford on a per-platform/segment basis. GM is ultimately far more profitable than Ford and better positioned in more segments, even better positioned than Ford in Trucks. Ford is still a standout when it comes to F-Series and Transit but GM has a far more successful grasp of utilities and luxury and much of that happened relatively recently.

 

So the new Navigator and Expedition aren't the class leading vehicles now? Or the Ranger that will be here in a few months?

 

The thing you forget is the R&D costs into making these cars "different" from one another-you have to spread it around 3-4 brands for GM, whereas Ford has itself and Lincoln to worry about. Ford can successfully offer lower end products with high range products with the same sheet metal and just improved interior materials/options.