Chrysler's jaw-dropping, 56-month US sales streak - Detroit Free Press
Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 as a weak automaker with few new cars and trucks in its pipeline, leaving many to doubt whether the company could survive — let alone boost sales and gain market share. But for nearly five years the automaker, which has been renamed FCA US, has done just that. Every month, for the past 56 months, FCA US has sold more new cars and trucks than for the comparable month from the prior year. It's a record the Auburn Hills automaker is proud of. "Back in the summer of 2009, when we emerged from bankruptcy and going into 2010 … a lot of people had Fiat Chrysler completely written off," said Reid Bigland, head of U. S. sales. At the time, many analysts and competitors dismissed the automaker's gains as somewhat expected given how far the company's sales fell during the recession. Others said the sales gains were driven by big incentives. FCA US' share of U. S. auto sales has increased from 8. 9% in 2009 to 12. 6% for the first 11 months of this year. Bigland said the automaker should get credit for a series of well-timed new or redesigned models that have proven to be popular. Source: www.freep.com
