Chrysler brands tip big future

There has been a 78 per cent sales surge for the Fiat-owned US group of brands. The irony is the sales growth is being driven largely off the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is the Mercedes ML-derived luxury off-roader conceived at a time when Daimler had a stake in Chrysler.

Jeep's incarnation of the vehicle is one of the smartest SUVs on the market and its $45,000 starter price has helped grab 1541 sales so far this year. Chrysler Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says sales are strong across the Jeep portfolio, with Patriot and Wrangler sales up 71 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.

The new Compass has also logged 842 sales to be the sixth most popular small SUV. "The next sixth months will be good for us," she says. "We have the Chrysler 300C and the SRT8 variant of the Grand Cherokee, and there's more to come."

Chrysler Australia will also take control of Australian sales of the Italian brands Alfa Romeo and Fiat from May 1. It is a logical extension of Fiat's control of the US brands and Chrysler Australia managing director Clyde Campbell says he aims to reawaken sales interest in the brands.

Combined first quarter sales for Fiat, Fiat Commercial and Alfa Romeo vehicles was 2635 vehicles. Alfa models include the 159, 159 Sportwagon and the Giulietta. The Fiat 500, Fiat 500 Abarth and commercial vehicles the Ducato and Scudo are also sold here.

Land Rover has been the other big mover this year with a 65 per cent growth to 2350 vehicles. The Discovery and Evoque have been stars for the US-based company. Disco sales are up 73 per cent to 618 vehicles and the Evoque has sold 597 cars to just trail BMW's X3 on 607 sales. Great Wall sales rose 73 per cent to 2863 vehicles and 11,983 Volkswagen sales was a 36 per cent increase.