The sales gain came as the Italian automaker was hit with a $90 million fine in July by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to lapses in vehicle recalls.
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Thomson ReutersFiat Chrysler assembly workers work on partially assembled minivans at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, OntarioDETROIT (Reuters) – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Nissan Motor Co Ltd said on Monday their U.S. July sales outstripped expectations on the strength of sport utility vehicles sales. Jeep Patriot sales rose 22%, the all-new Renegade posted a sales gain of 30% and Grand Cherokee sales rose 5%.
The company’s Dodge brand sales were down 13% year over year in July and are now down 16% for the year to date.
Analysts at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) had projected July sales at 175,000 and Edmunds had projected about 180,000 units.
Automakers lured buyers with summer discounts to clear out 2015 models. Toyota was offering zero-percent financing for five years on Camrys; buyers could also get zero-percent financing for six years on Ford Escapes.
Nissan Group, the first to release its numbers, posted a 22% increase in sales of pickup trucks, SUVs and crossovers, reflecting consumers’ rush into bigger vehicles as gasoline prices remain low. TrueCar said sales of luxury vehicles are rising at double the pace of mass-market brands.
Fiat Chrysler on Monday reported U.S. sales of more than 178,000 vehicles in July, a 6.2 percent increase from a year ago. Its best-selling vehicle, the Altima sedan, set a July record with sales up 27 percent. Lincoln with its new small SUV, the MKC was among the brands expected to see a big jump in July sales.
Nissan said its U.S. sales rose 7.8% in July.
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Automotive forecasters predict the industry will report a 3% increase for the month compared to the same month a year ago as Americans buy about 1.48 million new cars and trucks.
