Chrysler foreign sales rise 9 percent in February

Reuters / March 5, 2007 - 9:00 am FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- Chrysler group sales outside North America rose 9 percent in February to 15,194 units, the U.S. arm of DaimlerChrysler said today.

After its best February since 1998, Chrysler group sales in the first two months of 2007 were up 10 percent versus the same period of 2006, the carmaker said in a statement.

Boosting foreign sales by itself or with partners is a crucial objective for loss-making Chrysler, which DaimlerChrysler has said it is examining strategic options including a sale or spinoff.

The Chrysler group includes the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands.

The Dodge Caliber compact launched last year is the top-selling Chrysler group vehicle outside North America so far this year, with 4,834 units sold, it said.

"The global success of Dodge Caliber shows us that there is a significant group of customers in European and international markets who are attracted to the bold and unique characteristics of the Dodge brand," Chrysler's head of international sales, Thomas Hausch, said in the statement.

In February alone, the Chrysler 300C car led the product lineup with 2,629 units sold, an increase of 57 percent.

Italy is Chrysler's largest overseas market by volume with sales up 2 percent to 3,363 units so far in 2007. It is followed by Germany, where 2007 sales have risen 13 percent to 2,372 units