Chrysler Group LLC reported its best September in the United States since 2007, with sales of 142,041 units.
The automaker's September sales jumped 12% year-over-year.
Highlights for the month included a 72% spike in sales of the new Dodge Dart compact sedan. Dart production has been ramping up at Chrysler's assembly plant in Belvidere, Ill., where the automaker recently spent $600 million to build a new 638,000-square-foot body shop and install new machinery and tooling.
"Chrysler Group continues to perform well, even beyond expectations, with all brands posting sales higher than a year ago and maintaining its trend of best sales in five years," commented Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for Edmunds.com.
Six Chrysler models set sales records in September, including the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger midsize sedans, according to the automaker.
Two Jeep models -- the Wrangler and Patriot -- set September sales records, while the Fiat 500 hit an all-time record with a 51% jump in sales.
The Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck and Fiat brands also posted year-over-year sales gains in September.
"Ram-brand sales rose 4% and that's before the new, vastly improved Ram 1500 has reached full stock at dealerships," Krebs noted.
The Fiat brand's 51% increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand for the month.
"The Fiat brand is finally gaining some traction," Krebs said.
Chrysler Group finished the month with a 65-days supply of inventory, at 369,144 units.
"Going forward with our current product lineup, record-low interest rates and a stable U.S. economy, we remain optimistic about the health of the U.S. new-vehicle sales industry and our position in it," said Reid Bigland, president and CEO of the Dodge brand and Chrysler's head of U.S. sales.
