Chrysler Group underperformed the overall market which was up 20 percent, thanks in part to steep rises from Toyota (+46 percent) and Honda (+60 percent) which but beat its Detroit rivals, Ford was up 13 percent and GM up 10 percent.

The Dodge brand produced three record-setting models while registering the largest sales volume of any Chrysler Group brand in August. The Journey full-size crossover, Avenger mid-size sedan and Challenger muscle car each set a sales record for the month of August.

The Fiat, Chrysler and Jeep brands also produced record-setting models in August. The Fiat 500 set an all-time sales record with its 34 percent sales gain while the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan and the Jeep Wrangler established sales records for the month of August. Chrysler Group Sergio Marchionne announced this week that the Fiat 500L won't arrive in the U.S. until next March.

“Our Iron Man streak continued last month as we posted our 29th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of the Dodge brand and Head of U.S. Sales. “Our hard work over the past few years is starting to pay some dividends in our sales growth, quality awards and profitability. Not to mention, an incredibly resilient U.S. new vehicle sales industry doesn’t hurt either.”

Chrysler Group’s 14 percent increase in August was finally helped by the Dodge Dart compact sedan which added 3,045 units after a lacklustre opening two months on the market, its cause not being helped by delays to the auto option. Dart sales were up 294 percent in August compared with the previous month of July, as the Belvidere, Ill. assembly plant continues to ramp up Dart production.

The Chrysler 300 flagship sedan, with its substantial 65 percent increase, contributed to Chrysler Group’s August increase, as did the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, each posting double-digit percentage gains for the month. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a 13 percent hike, had its best August in six years while the Ram pickup truck extended its lengthy streak of consecutive year-over-year sales gains with a 19 percent increase in August. Dodge's Durango was one of the high profile losers during August, its sales tailed off 45 percent, with the other key model to decline being Jeep's Compass, down 15 percent.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 66-days supply of inventory (362,407 units). U.S. industry sales figures for August are projected at an estimated 14.6 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).