There haven’t been any secrets about the fact that FCA has had financial difficulties for several years while other companies flourished.
Even when Ford and GM moved forward and began to see record profits during the recovery period that followed the market troubles of 2008, FCA has had a hard time turning a profit. Most of the time, the models from Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, and other FCA brands compete with but don’t reach the levels of the other domestic giants when it comes to sales, but that has changed recently.
The Sales Numbers for FCA and Ford
For the first time since 2007, FCA has reported sales numbers for a single month that were greater than Ford for the light-duty vehicles. The sales for September for the FCA brands equaled 199,819 units while Ford showed up with 196,496 for the same month. This is a difference of over 3,000 models for the month. This is huge news for FCA as they have worked hard to battle back from the troublesome times of the past and have trimmed their lineup to fit what the market calls for. With this surge in sales, they are finally seeing the hard work and changes pay off.
What Does This Mean for Ford?
For Ford, the fact that FCA has outsold them for the first time in over a decade may be significant and a cause for concern. Not only are they being outsold by a direct competitor, but they have also seen a 3.5 percent drop in sales for the third quarter compared to last year. This may have to do with the smaller and outdated lineup, which Ford has already begun to move away from. These sales results simply allow Ford to add more support to the decision to move away from sedans and small cars for the future.
A Surge for the FCA Brands We Love
The third-quarter sales for FCA surged by ten percent compared to last year. They saw strong performances from Dodge, Ram, and Jeep brand. Jeep was up 14 percent, Ram sales increased 9.2 percent, Dodge sales increased 41 percent, and Alfa Romeo showed an increase in sales of 29 percent. The Chrysler brand was not surprisingly down 6.8 percent and Fiat slipped by 46 percent in the North American market. The models that showed the greatest increase in sales were the Jeep Compass, Dodge Journey, and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Confidence on Both Fronts
While Ford has chalked the slow sales to Hurricane Florence and an expected dip in the market as they move away from specific models, FCA is excited to see these results. As always, numbers can tell different stories for different companies and if Ford expected this dip in sales, then they likely have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, FCA has shown growth and seems to be on the right track with the right mix of models that we want to drive and enjoy when it’s time to get out on the road.
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