The Dodge brand’s 37 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any Chrysler Group brand in January. Chrysler Group in fact extended its positive streak in January to 34-consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains.

“It’s been a good week for the Chrysler Group. On Wednesday we announced full year 2012 profits of US$1.7 billion and followed that today with our January sales, up 16 percent, marking our 34th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “Entering 2013 our product portfolio has never been stronger with our new Ram truck picking up both the 2013 Motor Trend and the North American ‘Truck of the Year’ awards, and the introduction of our new 30 mpg highway Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with our new EcoDiesel engine.”

The much vaunted Dodge Dart compact continues to disappoint though and it is the biggest blot on an otherwise rosy picture; however the Dart's sales continue edge slowly upwards and it posted a 17 percent month-over-month increase in January, the car’s best monthly sales performance since it was launched in June last year. Providing much better news for the Dodge brand, the Journey full-size crossover recorded its best sales month ever in January.

Five Chrysler Group vehicles recorded their best January sales. Setting a sales record for the month of January was the Fiat 500, although that was versus a mediocre performance in January 2012 and its sales have in fact dropped away from their peak. The Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 mid-size sedans, the Dodge Challenger, and the Jeep Patriot compact SUV, all also posted their best ever January sales, while the Ram pickup truck, the volume leader in January, was up 14 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

Chrysler Group finished the month with an 87-days supply of inventory (411,349 units). U.S. industry sales figures for January are projected at an estimated 15.5 million units Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR).