WASHINGTON: US automaker Chrysler said yesterday US sales of cars and truck leaped 17 percent in May from a year ago as Jeep and Ram brands racked up strong gains.
Chrysler, a unit of Italian company Fiat Chrysler, said it sold 166,596 units last month, its best May sales since 2007.
The increase was stronger than the 14.4 percent rise estimated by car-shopping website Edmunds.com.
The No. 3 US automaker said sales of Jeep sport utility vehicles jumped 58 percent, the largest increase of any Chrysler Group brands. It was Jeep’s third consecutive month of record sales. Ram pickup truck sales rose 17 percent.
“Our Jeep sport-utility vehicles and Ram pickups continued to do well in May as our dealers reported brisk May sales over five weekends and the Memorial Day holiday,” said Reid Bigland, head of US sales.
Edmunds.com estimates overall US vehicle sales slowed to a 7.3 percent year-over-rise in May from a gain of 8.1 percent in April. AFP
