Strong minivan and Jeep sales propelled DaimlerChrysler's Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and Jeep brands to a July sales high of 226,766, a 10 percent increase over July 1998's 206,018. All DaimlerChrysler brands sold 243,420 units in the U.S. in July. Mercedes-Benz contributed 16,654 to the total, a 62 percent increase for that brand over July 1998's 10,310, and the second best sales month ever for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S.

In addition to new all-time highs for the Jeep brand and the Ram truck, Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and Jeep brands set 14 monthly records, including three other all-time sales records in the U.S. in July. Jeep brand vehicles, with sales of 51,441, toppled the previous all-time Jeep high, set in May of this year, of 51,240. Individual vehicles enjoying monthly high marks included Dodge Durango, with sales of 16,015; Chrysler Concorde, with sales of 4,876; and Jeep Wrangler, with sales of 8,301.

Truck sales for the Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth and Jeep brands were 175,959, a 20 percent leap over last year's record of 146,503.

In addition, the Jeep Grand Cherokee was the 13th best selling automobile in the United States during the month of July.