EXCLUSIVE: Fiat Chrysler Aims for 50 Pct Jeep Sales Rise in Japan

July 23, 2018

Tokyo- A Japanese unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV aims to increase annual sales in Japan of its Jeep sport-utility vehicles to 15,000 units in 2020, 1.5 times the current level, Jiji Press learned Monday.

FCA Japan Ltd., riding high on the popularity of SUVs in Japan, will expand dealerships mainly in major cities to boost sales.

Jeep sales in Japan totaled 10,102 units in 2017, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association.

In January-June this year, Jeep sales jumped 13.2 pct from a year before to 5,640 units, a record high for the first half and up 2.5-fold from five years ago.

Jeep sales accounted for about 80 pct of the U.S.-brand vehicle sales in Japan in the first half.

Popular Jeep models include the Wrangler and the Compass, which was launched late last year, as well as the Renegade subcompact SUV. These models attract young people and families loving outdoor activities.

The strong results partly reflect measures to enhance sales, including renovations of dealerships.

"We want to increase the number of dealerships to 100 by 2020" in Japan from the current 73, FCA Japan sales manager Hitoshi Ushikubo said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with generally sluggish sales of U.S.-brand vehicles in Japan. In 2016, Ford Motor Co. withdrew from the Japanese market.

Jeep's strong sales may offer clues to increasing sales of other U.S.-brand vehicles in the Asian country, industry sources said. Jiji Press