The U.S. automaker's 37 percent December increase was driven in part by strong sales of the Chrysler 300 flagship sedan (up 242 percent), the facelifted Chrysler 200/Sebring mid-size sedan, which saw more than nine thousand sales for the month and the 300's platform twin, Dodge's Charger sedan, which was up 227 percent. Also posting robust gains was the Dodge Avenger, Ram pickup truck, and Jeep's Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and Compass.

“Chrysler Group finished a year of growth on a strong note with our December retail sales soaring 45 percent to our highest dealer retail sales in four years,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of US Sales. “Looking back, we were the fastest-growing automaker in the country, increasing our market share 1.3 percentage points during 2011.” However, Chrysler Group doesn't breakdown retail sales numbers which traditionally are on the lower side.

The Chrysler brand’s 83 percent increase, driven exclusively by the 200 and 300 sedans (the Town & Country minivan was flat), was the largest percentage sales gain of all the Chrysler Group brands and represents its best monthly sales since August 2008, albeit at only 23,974 units. The Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands each logged double-digit percentage sales gains in December.

Even the ailing Fiat brand enjoyed some respite to its tumbling sales during December thanks to a new US$199-a-month lease deal designed to shift accumulated stocks; the 500's sales climbed 44 percent month-on-month to 2,325 units and allowed the Italian brand to close the year with a shade under twenty thousand units having been sold since its relaunch. Chrysler Group also announced that it finished the month with a 64-day supply of inventory (326,087 units). U.S. industry sales figures for December are projected at an estimated 14 million SAAR.