Dodge sales fall even as Challenger sales soar - Detroit Free Press
Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge brand, argues that the brand is performing much better than its declining U. S. sales figures suggest. Dodge's sales have dropped nearly 16% to so far this year in the U. S. to 294,791 cars and SUVs compared with more than 350,000 during the first seven months of 2014. But Kuniskis points out that the brand lost one of its nameplates -- the Avenger... The sales decline also reflects the brand's transition from a car, truck and SUV brand to a brand with a smaller lineup that relies heavily on its muscle and performance cars for sales. So far this year the automaker has sold 121,677 Chrysler 200s, a 128% increase over the 53,337 sold over the same seven months last year. Fiat Chrysler discontinued production of the mid-size Avenger last year when it launched its redesigned Chrysler 200. The company used to build both cars at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant but decided it would focus on the Chrysler nameplate... The automaker also shut down production at its minivan plant in Windsor for 14 weeks earlier this year so it could retool the plant to make way for the company's redesigned minivan. Source: www.freep.com
