The only laggards in an otherwise rosy September sales picture were the Chrysler group's biggest selling division, Dodge (+10 percent), which however rode the overall market rise, and the trainwreck that has become the Fiat U.S. relaunch - after the 500's sales stalled in August they simply went backwards last month.

The Chrysler Group’s 27 percent September sales increase was driven by retail sales that were up 50 percent year-on-year, says the company, although new incentives have to be factored into that equation. All in all the Chrysler Group has beaten the average industry sales increase in eight of nine months reported so this year.

The Chrysler division has turned round a year-long decline in recent months and for the year-to-date it is now flat on the same period last year. The refreshed 200/Sebring mid-size sedan saw its sales once again close to doubling in September (8,709 units) but more importantly the facelifted 300 full-size sedan which has so far struggled to match sales of the previous model saw demand hike by a half to 4,445 units last month. The refreshed Town & Country minivan, which has also struggled to impress consumers, continued its recent positive run: last month it was up 16 percent year-on-year. The Chrysler brand in fact logged its best sales month since August 2008 and best September sales since 2007.

Jeep has been the real driver for the Chrysler Group this year and the Model Year Wrangler (+47 percent) and facelifted Compass (+306 percent) led the way as ever in September, although the sales effect of the new Grand Cherokee SUV has now worn off after a full year in the showrooms and it was almost flat (-3 percent) year-on-year in September. The Ram brand had its best September since 2007. Sales of the Ram pickup truck were up 45 percent to 24,522 units year-on-year in September, its best sales month of the year and best September since 2007.

Dodge had its usual mixed month, the Grand Caravan was the volume winner: 10,203 units in September was up 27 percent on the same period last year, while the Journey was the biggest year-on-year winner, up 29 percent on the back of 5,402 sales. The new Durango SUV (spun off the Jeep Grand Cherokee) continues to sell well, it was just a shade off five thousand units last month. However Dodge's comprehensively facelifted Avenger and Charger sedans continue to struggle in the showrooms and they were down 8 and 23 percent year-on-year respectively and the soon-to-be-replaced Caliber saw its demand drop by a half.

“Irrespective of the economy, strong products equal strong sales and with our retail sales up a whopping 50 percent that is exactly what we have,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales. “September was also our 18th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth and we have now gained more retail market share than anyone else in the country. There is no double dip downturn going on around here.” Chrysler Group finished the month with a 54-day supply of inventory (277,278 units). U.S. industry sales figures for September are projected at an estimated 13.2 million SAAR.