Chrysler's US sales jump 17% in May

Jeep sales in the US climbed by 58% in May and may indicate that conditions in the USA economy are improving fast. Image: Cars

Chrysler, now a unit of Italian company Fiat Chrysler, said it sold 166,596 units last month, its best May sales since 2007.

The increase was stronger than the 14.4% rise estimated by car-shopping website Edmunds.com.

The number-three US car manufacturer said sales of Jeep sport utility vehicles jumped 58%, the largest increase of any Chrysler Group brands. It was Jeep's third consecutive month of record sales.

Ram pickup truck sales rose 17%.

"Our Jeep sport-utility vehicles and Ram pickups continued to do well in May as our dealers reported brisk May sales over five weekends including the Memorial Day holiday," said Reid Bigland, Head of US sales.

Chrysler was the first to publish US sales in May; other car manufacturers are due to release their data later.

Edmunds.com estimates overall US vehicle sales slowed to a 7.3% in May from a gain of 8.1% in April.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge