by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
Despite significant headwinds from a pandemic that continues to buffet the automotive industry, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Tuesday announced its fourth quarter retail sales rose 1% behind the strength of Jeep’s Gladiator truck , as well as a nearly break-even performance from Wrangler and Grand Cherokee.
Overall, despite those bright spots, the automaker’s fourth quarter sales faltered 8% when compared to the same quarter last year, while full-year sales slipped 17% thanks, FCA said, to a marked drop in fleet sales orders related to a sharp decline in business travel.
The company was quick to commend its dealer’s efforts in dealing with a difficult year, as well as touting its upcoming vehicle offerings.
"The work undertaken by our dealers was nothing less than heroic given the challenges they faced this year," said FCA’s U.S. Head of Sales Jeff Kommor. "The fourth quarter provided a strong springboard heading into 2021. Looking ahead, we anticipate an exciting year that will include a variety of new vehicles. Just in the first quarter alone, we will be offering the Ram 1500 TRX, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, the refreshed Dodge Durango and the refreshed Chrysler Pacifica."
The Jeep Gladiator truck continued its impressive year with a 23% fourth-quarter sales gain at 20,552 units. The Gladiator finished its solid year with 77,542 trucks sold — a 94% leap over 2019. Both the quarterly and yearly results topped the charts for FCA for any vehicle exceeding 50,000 sales. Additionally, as the Gladiator is also the most modified vehicle in Jeep’s stable, all those new units are bound to bring smiles to both Mopar and aftermarket providers.
While not as glorious, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee did manage to almost meet last year’s overall numbers in a challenging sales environment. For the quarter, both Wrangler and Grand Cherokee ended down 2%, while Wrangler fell 12% and Grand Cherokee 14% on the year.
Despite the fall off in 2020, Wrangler and the profitable Grand Cherokee remained the second and third most sold vehicles in FCA’s lineup, trailing only the Dodge Ram truck which finished at 563,676.
For the year FCA sold 1,820,636 vehicles, including 795,313 with the Jeep nameplate. Grand Cherokee again topped the year for Jeep with 209,786 sold, while Wrangler was just behind at 201,311.
The final 2020 results will be the last for FCA as a standalone company. Shareholders recently approved a planned merger with France’s PSA Group to create a new brand dubbed Stellantis, which will be the world’s fourth-largest automaker.
With several new vehicles on the horizon, including the highly anticipated Wrangler 4xe, Rubicon 392, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, optimism is high that FCA/Stellantis will return to black numbers in 2021 as it prepares to engage Ford in a battle for off-road vehicle supremacy. Ford is expected to launch its Bronco model late in 2021 to challenge Wrangler.
The automaker also pointed to numerous positive economic factors that should drive sales in the coming year.
"The economic indicators are pointing in the right direction for the start of 2021," Kommor said. "Gas prices remain low; housing remains strong and consumers have access to credit."
