Chrysler on Friday reported a 6 percent gain in US sales last month, its best December since 2007, but still narrowly missed analyst expectations.
Jeep sales rose 34 percent in the month, led by the new Cherokee, which sold four times as well in December as the vehicle it replaced, the Jeep Liberty, did a year ago.
Five analysts had expected Chrysler to gain about 7 percent over last year’s December sales.
US automakers are expected to show a gain of 4 percent in December new-vehicle sales from a year ago. Chrysler is the first of the major automakers to report December sales.
Chrysler is majority owned by Italy’s Fiat. Earlier this week, the two companies announced that Fiat would buy the remainder of Chrysler that is currently owned by a United Auto Workers healthcare trust, for $4.35 billion. That deal is expected to close by Jan. 20.