Windsor, Ontario, Jul 2, 2008  -  Chrysler Canada extended its sales success to 23 consecutive months of year-over-year growth. In a down market, the Company sold 22,194 vehicles in June, an increase of 1 percent over June 2007, and gained almost one full percentage point of market share.

Windsor, Ontario, Jul 2, 2008  -  Chrysler Canada extended its sales success to 23 consecutive months of year-over-year growth. In a down market, the Company sold 22,194 vehicles in June, an increase of 1 percent over June 2007, and gained almost one full percentage point of market share.

The Dodge Ram pickup truck bucked the trend and rolled over its competitors to capture 22 percent of the full-size pickup segment in Canada, a record high June share of segment. Year-to-date Dodge Ram pickup truck sales are up 3 percent in a segment that is down 12 percent.

“Despite rising fuel costs, the vast majority of Canadian truck buyers still need a truck for its work-related utility,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. “Although the Ram is a great-looking truck, our buyers are not interested in making a fashion statement. They want a powerful, yet fuel-efficient truck that works as hard as they do. No other truck has the combination of durability, great interior space and fuel efficiency (up to 27 mpg Highway) as that of the Ram truck. Hard-working Canadians will not accept a substitute. The Dodge Ram is on track for another record year.”

June Highlights

The all-new Dodge Journey remained firmly in the number one position as the best-selling crossover vehicle in Canada in June, up 25 percent over last month. “The Dodge Journey is ideally suited to the Canadian marketplace,” said Reid Bigland. “With seven-passenger seating, a price point of under $20,000 and fuel economy of up to 36 mpg, there is no wonder it has become Canada’s No. 1-selling crossover.”

The Jeep Grand Cherokee helped drive Chrysler Canada’s solid results in June, with 75 percent of Grand Cherokee retail customers selecting the fuel-efficient and eco-friendly 3.0L Mercedes clean diesel engine. This engine offers class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (7,400 pounds), and class-leading driving range of approximately 750 kilometres. Clean diesel technology improves fuel economy by up to 30 percent and has approximately 20 percent fewer CO2 emissions.

The Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, and Dodge Caliber trio also recorded another outstanding month with combined sales of 5,412, up 40 percent versus last year, thanks to the available fuel-sipping four-cylinder engine. In June, 33 percent of vehicles sold at retail by Chrysler Canada were equipped with a version of the World Engine, the company’s most fuel-efficient powertrain. This family of 1.8-litre, 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre engines were jointly developed by Chrysler LLC, Hyundai Motor Company and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, a successful partnership that launched the right engine at the right time.