Drew Dowdell

September is Blockbuster Sales Month October 1, 2010 11:57 AM Green Day wasn't kidding when they sang "wake me up when September comes." Vehicle sales more than woke up as Chrysler Group LLC saw a whopping 61 percent sales surge last month, compared with September, 2009. That's the six straight month of year-over-year sales increases, while Chrysler Jeep®, Dodge and Ram brands all posted year-over-year hikes. The all new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues its hot start with sales up 98 percent over August. Chrysler Group LLC Reports September 2010 U.S. Sales Increased 61 Percent September marks the six consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases Chrysler, Jeep® Dodge and Ram Truck brands post year-over-year increases All-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee sales up 98 percent over last month as inventory levels continue to improve at dealerships Ram Brand unveils the Ram Laramie Longhorn edition, the most luxurious Ram Truck ever produced by the company New 2011 Chrysler 200 mid-sized sedan and new 2011 Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle to arrive in dealerships this quarter Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 100,077, a 61 percent increase compared with sales in September 2009 (62,197 units). September represents the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases, and the second month this year that Chrysler Group sales exceeded the 100,000-unit threshold. Nearly all Chrysler Group vehicle lines currently in production improved year-over-year sales. “We will continue to build sales momentum this fall as a slate of new product begins arriving in our dealerships,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer – Ram Truck Brand and Lead Executive for U.S. Sales. “Consumers soon will be able to see more of our all-new and significantly-refreshed vehicles in our dealerships.” The new 2011 Chrysler 200, which replaces the Chrysler Sebring, and the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle will arrive in dealerships during this quarter. Also arriving this quarter are the significantly-refreshed 2011 Jeep® Patriot, 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, 2011 Dodge Charger and 2011 Dodge Avenger. Additional new models also will be available during this quarter. In all, Chrysler Group this year is introducing 16 all-new or significantly- refreshed vehicles representing 75 percent of its nameplates. Chrysler Group finished the month with a 58-day supply of inventory (231,304 units). U.S. industry sales figures for September are projected at an estimated 11.9 SAAR. September 2010 U.S. Sales Highlights by Brand Jeep Brand The Jeep Brand posted a 65 percent year-over-year increase in September, the best September for sales in three years. The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee contributed to the increase as its September sales were up 98 percent over August. Total Jeep Grand Cherokee year-over-year sales were up 95 percent in September. Sales of the iconic Jeep Wrangler, the brand’s volume leader, increased 29 percent compared with September 2009. Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass also had a strong September as each model posted triple-digit percentage sales increases. The 2011 Jeep Wrangler models – with all-new interiors – will be arriving this month in greater numbers on dealership lots. The new 2011 Jeep Patriot, the affordable compact sport-utility vehicle, arrives in dealership showrooms this quarter with rugged new exterior styling, interior enhancements, and refinements to the suspension and steering systems. Ram Truck Brand The Ram Truck Brand posted a 22 percent sales increase in September, compared with the same month in 2009. Ram pickup truck sales increased 26 percent in September as both light- and heavy-duty pickup truck sales posted double-digit percentage sales increases. Crew Cab and Quad Cab models continue to be the most popular consumer choices. Dodge Dakota sales also were strong last month, up 141 percent compared with September 2009. The Ram Truck Brand last week unveiled the most luxurious Ram Truck ever produced by the company. Named the Ram Laramie Longhorn edition, the Ram lineup’s most well-appointed model is designed for the owner who needs a truck for work or play, but won’t settle for anything but the finest quality and refinement. Ram Laramie Longhorn models will go on sale first quarter 2011. Ram Truck officials unveiled the Laramie Longhorn in the heart of Truck Country: the State Fair of Texas. Ram Laramie Longhorn’s design cues were taken from traditionally handcrafted, time-tested wares, such as the antique pocket watch, a fine pair of hand-tooled leather cowboy boots, a collector’s-grade shotgun or a horseman’s saddle. The metal work and leather work are second to none. Chrysler Brand The Chrysler Brand posted a 92 percent sales increase in September, compared with the same month in 2009. The Chrysler Town & Country minivan, the brand’s volume leader, posted a sales increase of 149 percent in September. Town & Country has posted year-over-year sales increases every month this year. Chrysler Sebring (sedan and convertible) posted a sales increase in the triple digits. The brand is replacing its full lineup with either all-new or significantly improved vehicles in just the next few months. The new 2011 Chrysler 200 mid-sized sedan, which will replace the Chrysler Sebring, will be arriving in dealership showrooms this quarter offering consumers exceptional craftsmanship inside and out, a refined and spirited driving experience, innovative technology, an abundance of standard safety features and an extraordinary level of standard content. The new 2011 Chrysler Town & Country also arrives in dealerships this quarter. The 2011 minivan offers consumers fresh, sophisticated, styling; a beautifully-crafted interior; improved driving dynamics; a new powertrain; and SafetyTec, a package of 40 standard safety and technology features. Dodge Brand The Dodge Brand posted a 71 percent sales increase in September, compared with the same month in 2009. All Dodge models posted sales increases during September. By the end of this year, Dodge Brand will fill dealer showrooms with a vast array of new or updated Dodge products. The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango, a three-row sport-utility vehicle, begins arriving this quarter in dealerships. The 2011 Durango’s stiffened unibody structure is engineered with the driving enthusiast in mind. The end result is a vehicle that delivers premium driving performance combined with SUV capability and crossover versatility. Durango will be followed by the all-new Dodge Charger and significantly redesigned Grand Caravan, Journey, Avenger and Challenger with two new powertrains. These products will join Dodge Nitro and Dodge Caliber in dealer showrooms. September U.S. Sales Highlights Jeep Brand sales (28,603 units) increased 65 percent versus the same month last year (17,287 units), the best September sales in three years Jeep Grand Cherokee sales (10,915 units) improved 95 percent compared with September last year (5,601 units) New 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee sales increased 98 percent over August sales Jeep Wrangler sales (7,765 units) improved 29 percent versus September 2009 (6,002 units) Jeep Liberty sales (4,865 units) increased 79 percent compared with September last year (2,715 units) Jeep Compass (1,090 units) and Jeep Patriot (3,641 units) each posted triple digit percentage year-over-year sales increases Dodge Brand sales (36,272 units) were up 71 percent versus the same month last year (21,215 units) Dodge Caliber sales (4,917 units) posted a percentage sales increase in triple digits Dodge Charger sales (8,812 units) were up 17 percent compared with September 2009 (7,507 units) Dodge Avenger sales (5,022 units) improved 76 percent versus the same month last year (2,859 units) Dodge Challenger sales (3,138 units) were up 76 percent compared with September 2009 (1,778 units) Dodge Journey sales (4,198 units) increased 40 percent versus September last year (2,989 units) Dodge Grand Caravan sales (8,057 units) improved 96 percent compared with September 2009 (4,112 units Dodge Nitro sales (2,032 units) increased 79 percent versus September 2009 (1,135 units) Ram Truck Brand sales (17,854 units) increased 22 percent versus the same month last year (14,649 units Ram pickup truck sales (16,887 units) increased 26 percent in September compared with September 2009 (13,165 units) Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck sales increased 42 percent versus September 2009 Dodge Dakota (960 units) posted a triple digit percentage year-over-year sales increase Chrysler Brand sales (17,348 units) improved 92 percent versus the same month last year (9,046 units Chrysler Sebring (sedan and convertible) (4,651 units) posted a triple digit percentage sales increases Chrysler Town & Country minivan sales (9,001 units) improved 149 percent compared with September 2009 (3,611 units)

September 2010 Sales Ticker General Motors - 172,969 Ford Motor Company - 160,873 Toyota Motor Sales of America - 147,162 Chrysler Group - 100,077 American Honda - 97,361 Nissan Motor - 74,205 Hyundai Motor America - 46,556 Kia North America - 30,071 BMW North America - 23,112 Subaru of America - 21,432 Mercedes-Benz USA - 20,666 Volkswagen of America - 19,943 Mazda North America - 18,580 Audi of America - 8,151 Mitsubishi Motors - 4,961 Porsche Cars North America - 1,971 American Suzuki - 1,641

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac September Sales Rise 22 Percent on Strong Retail Growth Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac retail sales increase 39 percent during month Sales and inventory mix reflects quick transition to new model year vehicles Company gaining retail market share with retail sales up 15 percent year-to-date GM full-size pickup sales rise 62 percent; compact crossovers increase 101 percent DETROIT – September combined total sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac increased 22 percent to 172,969 units, driven by a combined 39 percent rebound in retail sales compared with last September. Each brand saw retail increases in excess of 21 percent, led by Buick, where retail sales were up 96 percent for the month. September's results also reflect an effective and quick model-year transition – a dramatic departure from last year's changeover. Of GM's retail sales for the month, 53 percent were new (2011) model year vehicles – almost double last year's 27 percent. Dealer stock at the end of the month included 75 percent new model vehicles, compared to just 30 percent last year. "We said our goal for this time of year was to achieve an orderly transition from past model to the new model year, and we've achieved that," said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. "This helps us lower our overall selling costs and positions us to come out of the gates quickly during the new model year." Year to date through September, GM's four brands have sold 79,948 more units than were sold with eight brands through September 2009. The company's brands also have increased retail sales by 15 percent through September, and have gained market share in each of the first nine months this year. "September's results are a continuation of positive momentum for our four brands and demonstrate that our plan is working," Johnson said. "With key products like our heavy-duty pickups, the Buick Regal and the Cadillac CTS Coupe launching now, and expanded capacity for the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain hitting dealer lots, we're ready to run." Increased sales of crossovers and full-size pickups led GM's gains in September. Sales of the company's compact crossovers, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, rose 101 percent, while sales of mid-size crossovers, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave increased 36 percent. The Cadillac SRX, remained the fastest growing luxury crossover, with sales up 41 percent during the month. Year-to-date, SRX sales have increased 319 percent. Sales for GM's full-size pickup trucks, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra rose 62 percent in September. Month-end dealer inventory in the U.S. stood at about 478,000 units, which is about 26,000 higher compared to August, and about 55,000 higher than September 2009. September Key Facts and Brand Results: Calendar-year-to-date total sales for GM's four brands are up 23 percent Chevrolet: Chevrolet delivered 121,479 total vehicles in September, a 19 percent increase year-over-year. Year-to-date total Chevrolet sales are up 19 percent. Retail sales for Chevrolet rose 34 percent on the strength of Silverado and Equinox sales (read more). Buick: Buick reported total sales of 12,875, an increase of 36 percent compared to last year. Driven by continuing strong customer demand for the LaCrosse and Enclave (retail sales up 182 and 89 percent, respectively) and growing demand for the all-new Regal, Buick retail sales were up 96 percent for the month. With total sales up 58 percent this year, Buick remains the fastest growing major auto brand in the U.S. (read more). GMC:GMC reported total sales of 25,995, a 42 percent increase in total sales in the month of September, compared to the same month last year. This includes a 48 percent increase in retail sales. Retail sales for the GMC Sierra increased 59 percent during the month and retail sales for the Terrain were up 405 percent compared to last year. For the year, GMC total sales are up 28 percent (read more). Cadillac: Total sales of 12,620 for September were 11 percent higher than last September, with retail sales increasing 21 percent. SRX retail sales were up 96 percent, compared to a year ago, and CTS retail sales increased 18 percent. With total sales up 44 percent for the year, the brand remains the fastest growing luxury auto brand in the industry (read more). Fleet sales for GM's four brands were 43,733 for the month.

Hopefully will have a full on Android app by the end of the year, but the new skin for mobile phones is very very usable.

Need pics

If you're a Facebook user, you can now also "like" a thread!!

and something I forgot. We also now have automatic mobile phone skins for Android. It's not a specific app yet, but the browser skin works really well on Android phones.

Cheers and Gears has been upgraded Newest version of the Linux Kernal Multiple MySQL and PHP updates Newest version of IP Board Software iPhone App now available Chat is now fixed Status update enhancement, including the ability to reply Preview the first few lines of a topic without loading the entire topic.

There's no room for expanded freight rail service. Even if there were more intercity rail capacity to be found, the load/off load facilities were close to capacity in 2007.

What this calls for is Comic Sans

heh, you're right. I should have known better. I work with Canadians all day.

No trucks in 2013? You foresee the 3.6 going away?

fixed

BlueStar (for Europe too)

I like the idea of "star" as a suffix in the name... GM has a good rep with Northstar Ecostar RangeStar EfficiStar

Oooo! I like that one!

GM's Diesel for North America: Really needs a good name GM's 2.9 Liter V6 Clean Diesel for Europe On Monday, GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said at an energy efficiency conference that GM would release a diesel powered car for sale in the U.S. sometime in the future. Vague words at best, but still it managed to perk the ears of those of us who love torque. Only... how do they go about marketing such a thing? Read more after the jump: GM's Diesel for North America: It need a good name

GM's diesel for North America: It needs a good name GM's 2.9 liter V6 Clean Diesel for Europe September 29th - By Drew Dowdell On Monday, GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said at an energy efficiency conference that GM would release a diesel powered car for sale in the U.S. sometime in the future. Vague words at best, but still it managed to perk the ears of those of us who love torque. One of the constant problems with diesel power in the U.S. has been how to market it as something "special" compared to an every day gasoline engine. The word "diesel" pulls along as much baggage as the semi-trailers it powers. As the discussion about diesels increases over the next few years (assuming this prediction by the Vice Chairman comes to pass), you will see many references to the ill fated Oldsmobile diesels of the early 80's. However, even people too young to remember those cars, still associate "diesel" with dirty buses and trucks. The only diesel passenger vehicles for sale in the U.S. today are manufactured by the German imports. Chrysler, under the ownership of Mercedes Benz, fielded a few diesel Jeeps, and all 7 people who knew about them bought one. They were never marketed in any meaningful way. My guess is Chrysler simply didn't know how. Few can argue that Ford hasn't struck gold with their new Ecoboost engines, but the truth behind the Ecoboost engines is rather mundane. The Ecoboost engines are simply very good engines with direct injection and turbo charging. There is nothing technologically ground breaking about them. In fact General Motors even beat them to market, at least in general architecture, with their 2.0T-Direct Injected engine available in the Cobalt SS, HHR SS, Pontiac Solstice GXP, and Saturn Sky Red-Line. The difference with Ford is they've built an impressive brand cache around the term Ecoboost, so much so that even if a customer ends up buying a non-Ecoboost vehicle, it got them to look at a Ford product in the first place. Ford has taken the already good perception of the word "Turbo" and made it even more special, even more desirable, and made it only available at your Ford/Lincoln dealer. Thus, the need for a really good name. This brings us back to GM's (hopefully) coming diesel powered passenger cars. GM simply cannot slap a "Diesel" badge on the back of it's regular passenger sedans and call it a day. It needs an "Ecoboost" type marketing term to make sure people know that this is not their father's Oldsmobile Diesel. In Europe, the Opels sold with a 2.0 Turbo diesel are simply called Ecotec CDTI. Not good enough for the U.S.. The Ecotec name only has marginal name recognition and adding a bunch of meaningless letters at the end won't help build brand awareness. I'm probably a bit too old school to come up with a great marketing name for GM's diesels. Everything I think of sounds like it came from a Life Magazine advertisement from 1959, but I'll list them off for you anyway: TorqueMaster RangeMaster EcoThrust DriveMax So, I leave it to you dear commenters, help us find a good name for GM's potential diesel push.

Actually, every car lately that he's really like (and brought up again later) has been a GM. He *really* wanted a red Astra 3-door, but we couldn't do it at the time. He *really* likes the new SRX, but both of us are too cheap to spend that kind of money. And he *really* liked the Equinox we had as a GM tester. My guess is that we'll end up with an Equinox to replace the CR-V some day. I'm sure he'll like the Cruze well enough, but I don't think he'll part with having a CUV and AWD.

Here's an unexpected development. I guess we're going to go look at a Cruze at some point. Albert just saw a commercial for one and declared that he really liked it. Not my cup of tea, but he can have anything he wants as long as it's a GM or Ford.

Funny, I just booked my flight to Toronto today....

gah! too much modern bling....

We need a screenshot of that!

Does that have like 6,000 miles on it or something? That is a CLEAN engine bay for a diesel!

*clicks buy-it-now