Chrysler Corp.’s U.S. sales of cars and trucks fell 1.8 percent in March from the year-earlier month, the No. 3 automaker said Wednesday, as gains among trucks failed to offset steep declines for cars.
Chrysler’s truck sales rose 6 percent, to 145,021, led by the new Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle. Car sales fell 17 percent, to 61,656, with Neons, Intrepids and Breezes all posting big declines.
The report, matching the low end of estimates, kicks off a month in which industrywide sales are seen falling 2 percent from a strong year-earlier period.
Automakers are boosting incentives to spur sales because of competition from cheap and plentiful used cars and softening demand, after four years of steady sales
Among other large automakers posting March numbers Wednesday, Honda Motor Co.’s sales rose 5 percent, the best of the major Japanese automakers.
But Toyota Motor Corp.’s sales fell 14 percent, while Nissan Motor Co. posted a 42 percent decline. Both had strong year-earlier results.
Chrysler’s crosstown rivals, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., are expected to post unchanged to lower sales Friday.
