Chrysler's January Sales Results

XDCX · 02-02-2010, 10:29 PM

While the first review of Chrysler's January Sales Results indicates an 8% decline over last year, I think the real story lies a little deeper.

Although I have not had a chance to verify the data, I found the following post on Automotive News. Here are Chrysler's un-official sales results for the past four years:

Chrysler Reality Check:

Sold 156,308 units in January of 2007
Sold 137,392 units in January of 2008
Sold 62,157 units in January of 2009
Sold 57,143 units in January of 2010

Where does it end? How far does Chrysler have to fall before someone in Auburn Hills wakes up and decides to fight for market share?

XDCX · 02-02-2010, 10:35 PM

For January you'd make the front page of the West BC Sales Report if you managed to retail 28 vehicles and over half of the dealers in the BC sold 13 or fewer vehicles for the month.

What's worse is ten dealers reported ZERO sales for January - I fear some of these stores may be victims of the CF to GMAC transition.

ssdd · 02-03-2010, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDCX

What's worse is ten dealers reported ZERO sales for January - I fear some of these stores may be victims of the CF to GMAC transition.

This is what scares me, I have dealers that I know that are reporting zero.
I have never seen a zero on a report except in the case of a closed dealership.

XDCX · 02-03-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssdd

This is what scares me, I have dealers that I know that are reporting zero.
I have never seen a zero on a report except in the case of a closed dealership.

Lately that's how I've been hearing about most of the closed dealerships in the West BC.

When I review the report it's amazing how many stores that once sold 100+ units a month are now under 20. Even our biggest dealer in the West BC, Dave Smith Motors, reported a very soft month with only 137 units - that store sold 500+/month back when Chrysler was at its peak.

XDCX · 02-03-2010, 08:56 AM

Any ideas why the Challenger is so soft for January? Off by 39% and down to 1,683 units.

I don't know about the rest of the country, but the inventories in the West BC are heavily skewed to the expensive R/T and SRT packages.

ssdd · 02-03-2010, 05:38 AM

I was on the first page in the sebc with 14 last month...

I had dealers coming up to me at the daa meeting in January congratulating me on my great numbers in December... I was like WTF? I sold 15....
apparently double digits is a success...

CarguyCO · 02-03-2010, 06:10 AM

Oh my goodness....to see those numbers lined up like that makes it all the worse.

I have a bit of fear in the practical side of my brain.....

CarguyCO · 02-03-2010, 03:16 PM

Here they are down because nobody will drive them in the snow...
Everything is down though....and it wasn't high volume to begin with..all relative yes?

CL Pgh · 02-03-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarguyCO

Here they are down because nobody will drive them in the snow...
Everything is down though....and it wasn't high volume to begin with..all relative yes?

Same here. I'd guess some of the bitter cold temps. we had across the country in Jan. didn't help. My folks live in south TN and they had weather/snow that shut things down there for about a week.

ssdd · 02-04-2010, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CL Pgh

Same here. I'd guess some of the bitter cold temps. we had across the country in Jan. didn't help. My folks live in south TN and they had weather/snow that shut things down there for about a week.

I am in north Ga. and the last weekend of the month we got hit with three inches of snow. it completely killed our chance for a strong close. I think we talked to five customers that Saturday, and they where tire kickers...

LJS · 02-04-2010, 07:00 AM

We got lucky, in January. Our new units out was terrible, but I managed to make a $1,500 profit which I was thrilled with because three days before the end of the month I was about $14,000 in the red and with little profit left in site. Traffic is up slightly on used, and the service and parts departments are strong. New is still terrible as it has been for four or five months now. I pray to God I can at least keep up a break-even streak in 2010, but it will be tough. January was at least a small pick me up for me compared to the record losses we had in November and December. I can't remember the last time I felt so good about a $1,500 profit!

XDCX · 02-04-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJS

I can't remember the last time I felt so good about a $1,500 profit!

Congratulation on having a profitable month - I'd bet that fewer than 50% of Chrysler's dealers would be able to join you in that category.

At one point I recall Marchionne made reference to a high percentage of Chrysler dealers being profitable but I think that was for a month that was right in the middle of the Cash for Clunkers program. I wonder what the profitability figures were for January?

USEDandABUSED · 02-03-2010, 06:55 PM

Anybody have the Mid Atlantic sales numbers with specific dealers?

If my math is correct, that comes out to about 20 units per dealer nationwide??

XDCX · 02-03-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USEDandABUSED

Anybody have the Mid Atlantic sales numbers with specific dealers?

Yeah, I think CL has the report - this is what he posted in another thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CL Pgh

46% (115 stores) of MABC dealerships sold 10 units or less... and at that market meeting I mentioned from last Weds. ... not a single word was mentioned about increasing sales from the zone folks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USEDandABUSED

If my math is correct, that comes out to about 20 units per dealer nationwide??

I think if you pull-out the rental and corporate fleet numbers the average is probably closer to 12 - 15 units/store.

Ralph · 02-04-2010, 03:25 AM

Who can cover the nut, when we've all grown our stores over the decades to a point where we were selling an average of 50+? You can't shrink the property tax bill on the new locations we either needed or were forced to move up to, or cut down on the heat, lights, and capital loans required for the facilities we've all grown into. In order to sustain 10-15 units per month, the only thing that you can cut is the employee count, and after a time you can't afford to keep enough techs, sales people, and support staff to generate any money. Ugh...

02-02-2010, 10:29 PM	#1
XDCX Administrator Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7,825	Chrysler's January Sales Results While the first review of Chrysler's January Sales Results indicates an 8% decline over last year, I think the real story lies a little deeper. Although I have not had a chance to verify the data, I found the following post on Automotive News. Here are Chrysler's un-official sales results for the past four years: Chrysler Reality Check: Sold 156,308 units in January of 2007 Sold 137,392 units in January of 2008 Sold 62,157 units in January of 2009 Sold 57,143 units in January of 2010 Where does it end? How far does Chrysler have to fall before someone in Auburn Hills wakes up and decides to fight for market share?

02-02-2010, 10:35 PM	#2
XDCX Administrator Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7,825	West BC Sales Report For January you'd make the front page of the West BC Sales Report if you managed to retail 28 vehicles and over half of the dealers in the BC sold 13 or fewer vehicles for the month. What's worse is ten dealers reported ZERO sales for January - I fear some of these stores may be victims of the CF to GMAC transition.

02-03-2010, 08:56 AM	#5
XDCX Administrator Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7,825	What's up with the Challenger? Any ideas why the Challenger is so soft for January? Off by 39% and down to 1,683 units. I don't know about the rest of the country, but the inventories in the West BC are heavily skewed to the expensive R/T and SRT packages.

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02-03-2010, 05:38 AM	#6
ssdd Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 840	I was on the first page in the sebc with 14 last month... I had dealers coming up to me at the daa meeting in January congratulating me on my great numbers in December... I was like WTF? I sold 15.... apparently double digits is a success...

02-03-2010, 06:10 AM	#7
CarguyCO Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 217	Oh my goodness....to see those numbers lined up like that makes it all the worse. I have a bit of fear in the practical side of my brain.....

02-03-2010, 03:16 PM	#8
CarguyCO Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 217	Here they are down because nobody will drive them in the snow... Everything is down though....and it wasn't high volume to begin with..all relative yes?

02-04-2010, 07:00 AM	#11
LJS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 248	We got lucky, in January. Our new units out was terrible, but I managed to make a $1,500 profit which I was thrilled with because three days before the end of the month I was about $14,000 in the red and with little profit left in site. Traffic is up slightly on used, and the service and parts departments are strong. New is still terrible as it has been for four or five months now. I pray to God I can at least keep up a break-even streak in 2010, but it will be tough. January was at least a small pick me up for me compared to the record losses we had in November and December. I can't remember the last time I felt so good about a $1,500 profit!

02-03-2010, 06:55 PM	#13
USEDandABUSED Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 191	Anybody have the Mid Atlantic sales numbers with specific dealers? If my math is correct, that comes out to about 20 units per dealer nationwide??

02-04-2010, 03:25 AM	#15
Ralph Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 575	Who can cover the nut, when we've all grown our stores over the decades to a point where we were selling an average of 50+? You can't shrink the property tax bill on the new locations we either needed or were forced to move up to, or cut down on the heat, lights, and capital loans required for the facilities we've all grown into. In order to sustain 10-15 units per month, the only thing that you can cut is the employee count, and after a time you can't afford to keep enough techs, sales people, and support staff to generate any money. Ugh...