Chrysler’s Jeep brand is just about as American as apple pie, but European buyers can’t get enough of the off-road marque. Jeep’s European sales shot up nearly 62 percent last year, capping a year that saw Jeep’s global sales advance 41 percent.
Jeep’s European sales – which includes the 27 member states of the European Union, plus the four European Free Trade Association countries – increased an incredible 61.8 percent in 2011. In comparison, the overall European market was down 1.4 percent last year.
“The increase in Jeep sales in Europe is evidence that Chrysler Group’s integration with the Fiat Group is clearly working,†said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Much of the Jeep brand’s success in Europe can be attributed to a strengthened dealer network, as well as a rollout of new Jeep models for the European market – including the incorporation of Fiat’s fuel- and emissions-saving MultiJet II technology on the new 3.0-liter CRD engine that powers the Grand Cherokee.â€
Jeep’s biggest European increase came in Germany where sales increased 124 percent. Italy wasn’t far behind with a 117.6 percent increased, followed by France (+71.7 percent) and Spain (+21.2 percent).
Jeep’s United States sales increased 44 percent last year and, as previously mentioned, 41 percent globally. As a result of that elevated demand, Jeep has already announced that it will boost production of its popular Wrangler model at its Toledo, Ohio plant.
