DaimlerChrysler had its best sales month in Corporate history in May, with 281,395 vehicles sold in the U.S. Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and Jeep® contributed 264,732 to that total; Mercedes-Benz made up 16,663.

Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and Jeep sales were up six percent for the month, besting May 1998's monthly record and toppling the former all-time record for any month of 252,485, set in June 1998. In addition to the new all-time monthly high, those brands also set 18 monthly and 12 all-time sales records in the U.S. in May.

Among the all-time record setters were the Dodge brand, which had sales of 153,500, besting its former high in June 1998 of 142,712. Dodge trucks, with 116,820 in sales, toppled its former March 1999 high of 109,764. Jeep brand vehicles, with sales of 51,240, also had an all-time monthly high. The previous sales record for Jeep of 49,367 was set in October 1996. Individual lines enjoying all-time monthly highs include: Dodge Dakota, with sales of 17,207; Dodge Durango, which sold 18,441; Jeep Cherokee, with sales of 16,928; and Jeep Wrangler, which posted sales of 11,234.

Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge passenger cars totaled 74,548, up one percent over last May's 73,452. Truck sales of 190,184 -- a figure that includes minivans and sport utility vehicles -- were up eight percent over May 1998, an all-time monthly high that bested the previous high mark for trucks of 180,270 set in March of this year of 176,579. Separately, SUVs sales totaled 69,681, a 16 percent jump from May 1998's 60,138 and the best month ever for Dodge and Jeep SUV sales in the U.S.