July Auto Report: Fiat Chrysler, GM Sales Up 6%; Ford Sales Rise 5%

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FCA US LLC (Fiat Chrysler), Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Co. each posted single-digit sales increases for the month of July. The sales data showed lower gas prices and available financing propelled sales of pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.

FCA reported a 6 percent increase in sales (178,027 units) when compared to sales in July 2014. It was the automaker’s best July sales in 10 years.

“Last week FCA announced a 69 percent increase in second quarter profits, and now we post our best July U.S. sales since 2005,” says Reid Bigland, head of U.S. Sales at FCA. “With Jeep sales up 23 percent, we were also able to achieve our 64th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases.”

Eight FCA vehicles set records in July including Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Ram ProMaster, and Chrysler 200. The 200 saw a sales increase of 85 percent, the largest monthly percentage year-over-year increase of any FCA vehicle.

Ford Motor Co. reported a 5 percent increase in sales in July (222,731 units) when compared to sales in July 2014, marking its best July sales since 2006.

“We continue seeing even stronger demand for our newest products, especially F-150, Explorer, Edge, Mustang, and Transit,” says Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service at Ford. “With continued improvement in inventory, F-Series retail momentum continued building in July.”

F-Series retail sales were up 13 percent, the best July retail results since 2006. Ford brand SUV sales were up 11 percent in July compared year over year, representing an all-time July sales record. The Ford Explorer saw a 27 percent increase in sales compared with July 2014, and the Edge saw a 17 percent sales increase year over year.

Lincoln saw sales increases of 21 percent in July when compared with the same time last year, the brand’s best July sales results in a decade.

General Motors Co. saw a 6 percent increase in sales (272,512 units) in July when compared to July 2014, the automaker’s best July since 2007. Buick saw an 18 percent increase in sales, GMC saw a 1 percent increase, and Chevrolet saw an 8 percent increase when compared year over year.

“The second half of 2015 is off to a great start, with industry sales above expectations,” says Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations for GM. “GM has been steadily growing its commercial sales and retail market share, thanks to our strong truck and crossover portfolio.” 

Chevrolet saw a 24 percent increase in pickup, van, and SUV sales when compared to July 2014, the brand’s best July crossover sales ever.    

Fleet deliveries in July were down 20 percent year over year, as the company continues to reduce sales to rental customers and grow commercial and government deliveries.