Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Grand Cherokee, Wrangler Shine As FCA Posts Its Best 2017 Sales Month | Quadratec Skip to main content
Blog
Photography By: 
FCA stock image

Buoyed by strong performances from Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Thursday reported overall May sales fell just 1 percent against May 2016 and nearly ended the company’s current eight month sales slide. Even with the slight decline, the performance was FCA’s best so far this year.

The automaker's retail sales were actually up 1 percent for the month over last year, while fleet sales – a segment the company has targeted for reduction in favor of retail – decreased 7 percent. May's performance also beat industry forecasts which believed FCA would slip around 4 percent for the month.

Grand Cherokee continued to pace the entire Jeep lineup with sales jumping 14 percent against last year, easily maintaining its place as FCA’s second most sold vehicle behind the Dodge Ram truck. Meanwhile, Wrangler’s 2 percent May sales increase was especially encouraging for FCA and it marked the fourth time in five months the vehicle has outperformed last year. And all this with the looming Wrangler redesign scheduled to launch by the end of this year. Though sales did slip in March, Wrangler now heads into its prime summer selling season at almost the same sales number year-over-year as 2016.

However, the entire Jeep brand fell 15 percent in May and continues to be plagued by the same headwinds that are hurting FCA as well; namely sharply declining sales figures by discontinued products. For Jeep, that means the old generation Compass and Patriot which fell 43 and 53 percent respectively. Some relief is on the horizon for Compass though, as more and more of the next generation vehicle reach dealer lots.

Another difficult problem for Jeep is the ongoing soft performance by Cherokee. While the vehicle does stand as the line’s fourth-best seller, its sales have fallen every month this year and now are off 18 percent year-over-year. Also of note, Renegade continued to disappoint with its third-straight monthly decline. Following a strong start to 2017, the vehicle now sits relatively flat year-over-year with just a 1 percent increase.

Overall FCA recorded 193,040 vehicles sold in May, with 152,227 units (79 percent) under the retail sales umbrella. The Ram Truck and Dodge brands each posted the largest year-over-year sales increases in May, with Ram up 18 percent and Dodge up 8 percent.

The company has now posted declines in nine straight months since reporting a 3 percent increase in August 2016.

Top Jeep Articles

  • July 29, 2025
  • 4 min read
Diesel Exhaust Fluid And Your Wrangler EcoDiesel: What It Is, Why It Matters, And What Happens If You Skip It
Understanding DEF and why keeping your EcoDiesel topped off is crucial for performance, compliance, and peace of mind.
READ MORE
  • July 25, 2025
  • 3 min read
Seven Slot Dispatch 7.25.25
Weekly Jeep-related news items from around the industry and community.
READ MORE
  • July 23, 2025
  • 4 min read
Side Steps Q&A
From daily convenience to off-road durability, we answer the most common Jeep side step questions to help you choose, install and maintain the right setup for your build.
READ MORE
  • July 18, 2025
  • 5 min read
What Are The Differences In Off-Roading A Wrangler TJ, JK and JL
From trail-tested classics to modern tech machines, here’s how the TJ, JK, and JL Wranglers stack up when the pavement ends.
READ MORE
  • July 18, 2025
  • 4 min read
Seven Slot Dispatch — 7.18.2025
Weekly Jeep-related news items from around the industry and community.
READ MORE
  • July 17, 2025
  • 2 min read
From Warhorse To Workhorse – Jeep’s CJ-2A Celebrates 80 Years
Eighty years ago, the CJ-2A rolled off the line and into history—transforming from a battlefield workhorse to a symbol of American grit, freedom, and four-wheel drive adventure.
READ MORE
  • July 16, 2025
  • 4 min read
Expert Review: Quadratec Hardrock 2 Alloy Wheels
Discover the redesigned Hardrock 2 Alloy Wheels—built for larger tires, bold style, and trail-proven durability on your Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator.
READ MORE