Chrysler Canada Sales Increase 17 per cent in February; Retains Position as
Canada's No. 2 Selling Automaker for the Month

    
    -  Total sales up 17 per cent
    -  Minivans soar 47 per cent
    -  Ram pickup rockets to 3,001 units
    -  Best February ever for Dodge Journey
    -  Jeep Wrangler grows 66 per cent
    

WINDSOR, ON, March 2 /CNW/ - Chrysler Canada today announced total sales of 14,045 for the month of February 2010 (2009: 12,015), an increase of 17 per cent compared with February 2009. Strong traffic at the company's dealerships drove sales at the retail level to an increase of 23 per cent, underscoring the enthusiastic response to our current product lineup among Canadian consumers.

"The Olympic athletes were not the only ones who were going for the gold in February," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. "Our retail sales were up over 20 per cent for the third month running, and we won't rest till we are at the top of the podium again."

Sales Highlights

The Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country continued their drive to domination with combined sales of 4,415 units, an increase of 47 per cent over last year. February marks the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains for the company's minivans. These vehicles continue to overwhelm not only the minivan segment, where they have an astounding 85 per cent market share, but products from other segments as well. The Dodge Grand Caravan was the No. 2 selling nameplate in the country, easily overcoming rivals in the SUV segment, the crossover segment, and the small car segment.

Sales of the Ram pickup surged 88 per cent in February over the same month last year, with 3,001 units sold (2009: 1,594 units) The Ram was Canada's No. 5 selling nameplate in February, making Chrysler Canada the only automaker to have two of the top five selling vehicles in the country.

Canada's No. 1 selling crossover, the Dodge Journey, had its best February ever, with sales of 1,449 units, up 53 per cent over February 2009.

Jeep(R) brand vehicles experienced another strong sales month, led by an outstanding performance for the Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep Wrangler posted a 66 per cent increase year-over-year on sales of 670 units.

March Incentive Program

Chrysler Canada is celebrating the arrival of spring with a special "Spring into Drive Event" from March 2 - 31. This one-month exclusive program includes special dealer events from coast-to-coast across Canada.

When customers visit one of our 440 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram dealerships in the month of March, they will now be entitled to an exclusive $500 in "Spring into Drive Bonus Cash" on top of all other retail programs on nearly every 2010 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicle.

In addition, Chrysler Canada continues to offer the most compelling purchase finance options in the industry, which are combinable with all retail discounts. These financing options include the industry-first variable prime rate of 2.25 per cent up to 84 months or zero per cent up to 36 months on nearly every 2010 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram product.

Also, only for the month of March, Canadians can receive up to $1,000 in "No-Charge" equipment on 2010 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - named 4x4 of the Decade by Four Wheeler magazine; 2010 Ram 1500 - an Automobile Magazine "All Star"; and 2010 Jeep Liberty, featuring the industry-exclusive Sky Slider(TM) roof.

Here are a few of the "No Charge" opportunities on these three vehicles:

    
    -   2010 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: Get $1,000 of
        "No-Charge Options," allowing you to customize your Jeep vehicle with
        equipment such as the 32-inch Tire & Wheel Group, the Freedom Top(R)
        modular hard top, SIRIUS Satellite Radio with six Infinity(R)
        speakers and subwoofer, or the Mopar(R) Chrome Edition Group.
    -   2010 Ram 1500: Get a "No-Charge" SXT Package, including chrome
        wheels; bright grille and bumpers; SIRIUS Satellite Radio with
        12-month free subscription; speed control, premium cloth 40/20/40
        front seat and more. Or customers can choose a "No-Charge"
        class-leading 390-horsepower HEMI(R) engine on the SLT, Sport or
        Laramie models.
    -   2010 Jeep Liberty: customers can select a "No Charge" North Edition
        or Renegade model, featuring Selec-Trac II(R) active full-time
    four-wheel-drive system; Skid Plate Group; unique aluminum wheels
        with all-terrain tires; premium cloth seats; leather-wrapped steering
        wheel and shifter; and much more.
    

About Chrysler Canada

Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, Chrysler Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2010. Chrysler Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC, one of the world's leading automotive companies. Chrysler Canada's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep(R) Wrangler and Chrysler 300.

Additional information and news from Chrysler is available at http://www.media.chrysler.com.

For further information: Mary Gauthier, [phone] (office), [phone] (cell), [email protected]