April 3, 2017 FCA US Reports March 2017 U.S. Sales ​ •Dodge brand sales up 10 percent; four Dodge brand vehicles post sales gains •Ram Truck brand sales up 6 percent; Ram pickup sales increase 6 percent year over year •Jeep® Grand Cherokee sales increase 22 percent compared with same month a year ago •Fiat 500 sales up 12 percent for the month April 3, 2017 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported U.S. sales of 190,254 units, a 5 percent decrease compared with sales in March 2016 (199,467 units). In March, fleet sales of 43,992 units were down 15 percent year over year as FCA US continues its strategy of reducing its sales to the daily rental segment. Fleet sales represented 23 percent of total FCA US sales in March. FCA US retail sales of 146,262 units were down 1 percent for the month, and represented 77 percent of total March sales. Dodge brand and Ram Truck brand sales increased year over year in March. Dodge brand sales were up 10 percent, led by the 100 percent increase in Dodge Journey crossover sales. Ram Truck brand sales were up 6 percent in March as the Ram pickup and Ram ProMaster van each posted year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Jeep® Grand Cherokee – the Jeep brand’s volume leader in March – were up 22 percent compared with the same month in 2016. Sales of the Fiat 500 and the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan increased year over year as well in the month. Dodge Brand Four Dodge brand vehicles posted year-over-year sales increases in March, led by the Dodge Journey crossover’s 100 percent sales gain. Sales of the Dodge Challenger were up 17 percent in March. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – the Dodge brand’s new ultimate performance halo car – will be unveiled this month during the 2017 New York International Auto Show week. The Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and the Dodge Viper also turned in year-over-year sales gains for the month. Dodge brand sales were up 10 percent compared with the same month in 2016. Ram Truck Brand Ram pickup truck sales increased 6 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. In addition, sales of the Ram ProMaster van were up 24 percent for the month. Ram Truck brand sales, which include the pickup, ProMaster and ProMaster City, were up 6 percent in March. The brand last month unveiled a new exterior color shade for its luxurious and capable Laramie Longhorn line of pickup trucks. RV Match Walnut Brown will serve as the model’s new two-tone contrast color, replacing White Gold. The Ram Laramie Longhorn is the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Luxury Truck of Texas. FIAT Brand Sales of the Fiat 500 increased 12 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. Fiat 124 Spider sales were up 39 percent compared with the previous month of February. Experts at Cars.com consider the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider best in its segment, naming it the “Best New Convertible” of 2017. Jeep® Brand The Jeep Grand Cherokee – the brand’s volume leader for the month – recorded a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase in March for its best sales month this year. The all-new 2017 Jeep Compass – the most capable compact SUV ever with the most advanced 4x4 systems in its class – began shipping to Jeep dealerships in March. The new Compass expands the Jeep brand’s global reach with an unmatched combination of attributes that includes legendary and best-in-class 4x4 off-road capability, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, premium and authentic Jeep design, superior on-road driving dynamics, open-air freedom, and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings. Chrysler Brand Sales of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica – the most awarded minivan of 2016 and 2017 – were up in its third month of year-over-year comparisons, and increased 3 percent compared with sales in the previous month of February. March also was the Pacifica’s best sales month so far this year. The Pacifica continues to earn a plethora of awards and accolades in 2017, landing on Kelley Blue Book’s list of the “12 Best Family Cars of 2017” in the best minivans category, and “2017 North American Utility of the Year.” Alfa Romeo Brand Alfa Romeo brand sales of 555 units were up 1,191 percent compared with the same month a year ago. Maserati Brand Maserati brand sales of 1,312 units were up 32 percent compared with the same month in 2016.
They can get Laura back. Was Fiat's Laura Soave fired because of an "improper relationship"? A blowjob with a carsale never hurt anyone.
I have--I actually own two Wranglers--a 2008 Sahara, and a 2015 Rubicon, both 4 doors. The love for this vehicle runs deep in America. Is it a good car--absolutely not. It is good off-road--yep. How many 4 door 5 seat convertibles are there? Is it awesome on the slickrock of Moab--yep. It is so anachronistic it is endearing. And it is certainly a more reliable car than my Lotus Exige. So it doesn't matter that Consumer's Reports hates it--they still sell in droves.
I hate Jeeps. Far as I'm concerned, their highest and best use is to pollute land fills. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
And that was the cause of their original demise in the US. Fiat tried to partner with Buick/Caddy dealers in the US, at a time when American iron used big heavy wrenches that were not suitable for aluminum parts. When I bought my Fiat 124 in '73, the bleed valves had been twisted off all four calipers by Conan the Caddy mechanic. I had to have a specialty import shop fix that. Fiat exited the US shortly thereafter. After Fiat bought Alfa, the tiny Alfa network folded up, and Fiat tried selling Alfas through Chrysler dealers. But with Alfa as an unconnected marque, the lack of brand training at Mopar shops hurt Alfa service, and Alfa similarly exited. (When the Boston area Chrysler/Maserati/Alfa shop was ruining my GTV-6 mill in '86, they were hiring general mechanics with no brand training at all.) Now, after buying Chrysler, FCA is shunning using the Chrysler dealer network, and trying to establish new Fiat stores, and trying to partner Alfa with the tiny Maserati network. Putting a Fiat 500 next to a Jeep on the same chassis may not be ideal, but putting Fiats 100 miles from the buyers isn't a winner, either. Alfa's original problem in the US, as an independent, was the sparseness of their dealerships. (In the late '70s, Alfa dealers were as thin as Ferrari shops.) But the few dealers they had really did know the cars. Fiat has been trying to establish dealerships by "bid", leaving the individual shops to pick up training (or not). This has been an ongoing issue with Fiat: the failure to prepare dealers to service what they sell. People won't buy a car if they have to take their car 100 miles to get hit-or-miss service. That may be why Fiat is trying to sell a "Fiat 124" that Mazda dealers could fix. (But then, people would likely just buy a Miata.)
Probably, but have you seen the Miata? It's been hit with the ugly stick ... yuck! BTW: As anybody ever experienced FIAT dealership service in Italy? As this theme of poor service is not confined to the UK or America, maybe it is world wide, hence my question. I've also read not so wonderful stories of Ferrari service too ... and Ducati! Pete
thats impressive if the mini is that much better than the 500 abarth. After 2k miles i have to say my abarth is alot of fun. The nav blows so i dont use it as its very slow and sometimes the USB doesnt pick up the ipod but other than that its been a blast. Did fine in the snow with the nokian WRs. Shifting into 3rd does NOT eliminate the grind into reverse which is also annoying but overall i think its a great capable fun car. What is so much better about the mini?
I think if I were driving country roads all day yes, but driving in city stop and go traffic all day, I much preferred the Mini S
Had an Abarth C, 500 5sp and 500 Auto. The 500s are great for what they were designed - city vehicles meant to zip in and out of traffic and still get 30+ mpg. The Abarth is a step up in performance, loud (mine had exhaust delete), brash but not very refined when it come to handling (even after adding a suspension package). Super fun to buzz around the 'hood and scare the locals, but made the mistake to do an out of town trip (120 miles RT) not very pleasant especially with wind gusts. On the other hand, the Mini is far more refined both in term of handling and long hauls, I have had the base, the cooper S, and two JCW (my "DD" is JCW), it's a "real" car, i.e. suspension to well designed good ergo, I have done 200 miles trips in it without needing a day to recover, the brembo brakes are impressive (JCW) and the power/torque delivery is just as much fun as the Abarth (even backfires on downshifts...not as much the Abarth)..but the Cooper S/ JCW also at least twice the price of the 500 so should be better. IMHO, the 500 is perfect for city driving (primarily) if you plan on driving both city and hwy...Cooper (any model) is the way to go
She got fired for the dealer roll out (which was a disaster) and that idiotic Elvis TV and Radio ad campaign.
That's interesting. We do have a shortage of Alfa Dealers (not Fiat) and here Alfa are often sold with Fiat but I think a few are now Fiat/Jeep/Alfa or combinations of. They just don't live up to what you would expect from most other dealers. It has been said that since they now sell the £60k+ QF it should be more like a Maserati experience. Alfa though unfortunately still have a reputation of rust and unreliability from the 70's and 80's when they bought a load of Russian bad steel not helped by their lack of proper corrosion protection. Today when folks realise you own an Alfa they ask you if you are in the AA or RAC (breakdown service) and that you are getting your money's worth. If an Alfa goes to the garage for repair you were warned, however in contrast a BMW or Audi and you get sympathy and "It must have been a Monday car". This is great if you buy 2nd hand but does not help buyers of new cars much. Currently the finance/PCP offers on Alfas can't match that of BMW & Audi etc. Hopefully this will change with the Giulia. As for Fiat, there are plenty of dealers but the "Fix It Again Tony" just becomes boring for owners. On the other hand Jeep are considered good.
My Fiat 124 was plagued by rust on its lower body panels. But when I bought my (pre-Fiat) Alfa, extra undercoating was a dealer option (at least from my dealer) -- and the best investment I ever made. But Alfas (Spider, Alfetta, GTV-6) were my daily drivers for ten years, with only a few issues. Mostly related to winter. But that demanded regular service. You can't just drive 'em 'till they stop like a ricer. So the collapse of the dealer network under Fiat was a death blow.
Alfa Maserati can become strong brands with the right product.... Fiat really does have an image problem in the USA... My personal feeling is fiat should be dropped in America and replaced with just the Abarth brand here... Abarth has no negatives and would have been easier to sell to Americans than fiat... I believe the original pitch Sergio gave fiat dealers was one of a boutique purchasing experience of consumers ordering options for their cars and waiting for delivery. The previous fiat president took the hit when that concept failed to materialize in America. Just my opinion but Maserati Alfa and Abarth should be sold in one dealership...then maybe a few fiat models like the 500 retro ...the 500 cuv if you must...and call it a day... The United States auto sales is all about subsidized lease rates on commodity products. Fiats a commodity...where as Alfa and Maserati can pull a little more from their sexy image and history
From the stats posted earlier, looks as though Fiat ate into Mini sales. Can see why too when 500's are priced so low. They had a big surge in 12 with all the faithful had been chomping at the bit to be able to buy for the 1st time in 30 years. Myself included. Bought mine here on Fchat from Texas. 20k for a 6 month old loaded Abarth. For us it's a specialist car. We need the other Abarth models here to get the faithful excited about. Though it might be too late now... 54k on mine, been pretty reliable other than a turbo replaced under warranty. Great dealer here in Danbury
I thought FIAT's raison d'etre in the USA is to meet CAFE regulations. Otherwise, not much of a business case for them.
Cheap car and lots of fun, my 13 Abarth at 26k miles has been trouble free, daughters leased 500X at 17k miles also trouble free...only oil changes for both. The 500 is clearly due for a makeover, maybe a little larger and less playschool plastic inside. The 124 Spider was never going to sell in huge #'s, how many Miata's are sold yearly? I hope they make it, but quite easy to see how the dealers are hurting.
This might do the trick 😀 https://www.motor1.com/news/147884/fiat-500-giannini-350hp/ Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk
