DaimlerChrysler had record sales of 227,707 units in the U.S. in February. Dodge, Jeep®, Chrysler and Plymouth made up 215,450 of those sales, an eight percent increase over last year and the fifth consecutive month in which those brands have set a record. The Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler and Plymouth brands set 12 sales records in February, including new high marks for the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Dodge Caravan, Dodge trucks, and Jeep brand vehicles. "Sport utility vehicles continue to grow in popularity, and we have the best offerings at every level of that segment," said James P. Holden, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "The Grand Cherokee just keeps raking in the awards, and the Durango and M-Class have both been success stories from the word go," he said. Passenger car sales for the Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth brands in the U.S. were 70,014, a nine percent increase over last February's 64,506. Truck sales - at 145,436 units, a seven percent increase over last year's 135,562 - set a record for the sixth month running. Sport utility vehicle sales were 54,733, a 19 percent climb from the same period a year ago, and the sixth consecutive month in which SUVs have set a record. Minivan sales, at 42,665 units, were up two percent from the year-earlier period. Among the record setters for February was the Dodge Division, with sales of 124,219, an eight percent increase over last February's 115,011. Jeep vehicles also set a new high mark at 39,359 units, a 14 percent increase for that brand over last year. Included were record sales of the Grand Cherokee of 22,074, a 21 percent jump from last year. Dodge Caravan also set a February record with sales of 25,204, a 10 percent increase versus February 1998. Dodge Durango's record sales totaled 15,374, a 32 percent increase from February 1998 sales of 11,618.
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