The Jeep® brand today announced the launch of TripCast, ™ an easy-to-use, free, iPhone app and Web site that enables consumers to plan a trip, share an electronic scrapbook of the adventure and upload photos, video, audio clips and status updates to Facebook and Twitter.

The application allows family and friends to follow a traveler’s trip in real time via the Web or an iPhone. Also included in the application is a “Points of Adventure” function which offers those looking for their next adventure more than 250,000 outdoor recreation spots in the United States.

"TripCast enables everyone with a sense of adventure to plan a trip, share it with friends as their journey unfolds, and find new spots to explore," said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "This new app is perfect for Jeep fans, and anyone who enjoys getting out, having fun, and sharing that fun with friends. It also
provides us with a unique way to connect with a wide array of consumers, exposing them to the unique Jeep lifestyle along the way."

Trip Cast is free to consumers and is compatible with 3G, 3GS and 4G iPhones. Family and friends are able to follow traveler’s trips and download the app via jeeptripcast.com.

Key features of the TripCast app include:

• Web and mobile interface
• Track your Path – Enables the user to track their path in real time
• Share with Friends – Determine what and how much of a trip to share via the Public, Invite and Private settings
• The Public setting shares information with everyone; Invite allows the user to invite friends to follow the trip and the Private setting allows only the user to view the information
• TripCast also notifies users when a friend is in the area and can coordinate a chat
• Post your Finds – Photos, video, audio and text can be posted and shared with friends and all content can be viewed “on location” on a map in real-time
• Trip is downloadable via Google Earth as well
• Points of Adventure – Discover new spots with more than 250,000 outdoor recreation locations by category including parks, bike paths, camping, ski resorts and more
• Create playlists and listen to music while using the app
• Create a personal user profile and customizable Jeep avatar
• Save and view personal or friends’ trips, in real time or for later, on the Web and iPhone

TripCast can be downloaded free beginning today from the TripCast Web site, www.jeeptripcast.com or from the iTunes App Store using “Jeep” or “Trip” as search words.

Chrysler Group LLC announced its new pledge program which allows consumers to return a new vehicle within 60 days if they aren’t happy with the purchase, plus the company will make the first two months payments for the consumer (up to $500 per month, maximum of $1000).

“We build great vehicles for just about any lifestyle and with this pledge, consumers will have the confidence to know they made the right purchase or they can return the vehicle no questions asked ,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer – Ram Truck Brand and Lead Executive for U.S. Sales. “Plus Chrysler Group will make the first two payments for the consumer.”

The program starts today and is available on most 2010 Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram Truck vehicles.

In addition, the company’s National Tent Event also kicks off in July, with more than 2,000 Chrysler Group dealerships participating with associated activities at their stores.

“We are pleased to sponsor, for the first time, a national tent event with our local dealerships,” Diaz said. “With local fairs and summer activities in full swing, our dealers are thrilled to add to the summertime excitement and festivities.”

July Incentives

Chrysler Group LLC today announced 0 percent financing on most 2010 model year Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram truck vehicles when financed through GMAC Financial Services. The incentives announced today are valid through Aug. 2, 2010.

Chrysler Brand
Consumers purchasing 2010 model year Chrysler brand vehicles can choose 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, through GMAC Financial Services, Consumer Cash of up to $3,000 or the “Regret Free Purchase” pledge program.

• Consumers purchasing a 2010 model year Chrysler also are eligible for 1.9 percent financing for up to 72 months through GMAC Financial Services
• Consumers who lease a 2010 model year Chrysler 300, Chrysler 300 C or Chrysler Town & Country minivan through GMAC Financial Services are eligible for lease bonus cash of up to $2,000

Jeep Brand
Consumers who purchase most Jeep brand 2010 model year vehicles can choose 0 percent financing for 60 months, Consumer Cash of up to $4,000 or the pledge program.

• Consumers who purchase a 2010 Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee or Jeep Commander and finance through GMAC Financial Services are eligible for up to $1,000 in GMAC Bonus Cash
• Current Jeep owners who purchase the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee are eligible for $1,000 Bonus Cash, and attractive Jeep lease offer.

Dodge Brand
Consumers purchasing most 2010 model year Dodge brand vehicles can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, Consumer Cash of up to $3,000 or the “60-Day Test Drive” pledge program.

• Consumers who purchase Dodge Charger can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 72 months, Consumer Cash of $3,000 or the “60-Day Test Drive” pledge program

Ram Truck Brand

Consumers who purchase 2010 model year Ram Truck vehicles can choose from 0 percent financing for up to 60 months, Consumer Cash of up to $3,000 or the “60-Day Handshake” Pledge program.

• Consumers purchasing a Ram 1500 and finance through GMAC are eligible $1,000 GMAC Bonus Cash.

Leasing
Chrysler Group is offering attractive lease rates on most 2010 model year vehicles.

Chrysler Group LLC reported a U.S. sales increase of 35 percent, versus June 2009, the third consecutive year-over-year percentage sales improvement, and double the industry’s average percentage increase.

“This 35 percent increase in year-over-year sales shows that we continue to build on our sales momentum,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer – Ram Truck Brand and Lead Executive for U.S. Sales. “Consumer buzz is building tremendously with the arrival of our all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee in dealerships now, as well as the continuing accolades for our new Ram Heavy-Duty pickup trucks.”

Chrysler Group reported total U.S. sales for June of 92,482 units, an increase of 35 percent versus June 2009 (68,297 units), even in the face of a softer-than-expected June for the industry.

Chrysler Group finished the month with a 60-day supply of inventory (221,726 units), a 14 percent increase versus June 2009 (195,272 units). The 60-day supply is down from a 71-day supply in June 2009. Overall, U.S. industry sales figures for June are projected at an estimated 11.4 SAAR.

“As we enter the busy summer travel season, all four of our brands – Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram Truck – enjoyed sales increases during June,” Diaz said. “Our minivan pledge continues to resonate with consumers, as both the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans posted significant year-over-year sales increases.”

The new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee started arriving in dealerships in June and will be available in greater volumes this month. The new Grand Cherokee follows the introduction of the all-new 2010 Ram Heavy-Duty pickup trucks and the all-new 2011 Ram Chassis Cab. Chrysler Group later this year will launch 16 all-new or refreshed products representing 75 percent of the model lineup.
June U.S. Sales Highlights

• Jeep Brand sales (20,731 units) increased 25 percent versus the same time period last year (16,608 units
• Jeep Brand sales were up more than 9 percent in the second quarter this year, compared with the second quarter of 2009
• Jeep Wrangler sales (8,923 units) improved 86 percent versus June 2009 (4,810 units)
  • Jeep Wrangler just received Edmunds’ Inside Line 2010 Readers’ Most Wanted Award in the “Instant Classic Under $30,000” category
• Jeep Compass sales (1,259 units) increased 30 percent compared with June last year (967 units)
• Dodge Brand sales (36,996 units) were up 67 percent compared with June 2009 (22,180 units)
• The Dodge brand posted the highest year-over-year sales increase in June of the four brands
• Dodge Caravan sales (8,658) were up 49 percent versus June 2009 (5,820 units)
• Dodge Caliber sales (4,728) increased 34 percent compared with June last year (3,538 units)
• Dodge Avenger Sedan, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger sales each increased by triple digit percentages versus June 2009
• Dodge Challenger posted a June sales record (3,086), as well as a record for the second quarter and half year
• Dodge Nitro sales (1,591) increased 8 percent compared with June 2009 (1,471) units
• Dodge Viper sales increased by triple digits, versus June 2009
• Chrysler Brand sales (17,893 units) increased 30 percent compared with June 2009 (13,753 units)
• Chrysler Town & Country minivan sales (9,595 units) improved 34 percent versus June 2009 (7,178 units
• Chrysler Sebring (sedan and convertible) sales (3,978 units) increased 127 percent compared with June 2009 (1,752 units)
• Chrysler 300 sales (3,304 units) increased 13 percent compared with June 2009 (2,917 units)
• Ram Brand sales (16,862 units) increased 7 percent versus June 2009 (15,728 units)
• Ram Pickup sales (15,864 units) were up 10 percent compared with last June (14,478)
• Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck sales increased 26 percent versus June 2009
• Dodge Dakota sales (983 units) were up 52 percent compared with the same time period last year (645 units)

Chrysler Group LLC today reported a U.S. sales increase of 25 percent, the best year-over-year percentage sales improvement for the company in almost five years. In addition, the company continued its trend of month-over-month sales increases in 2010, up 3 percent versus March 2010.

"April was a very positive month for Chrysler Group, with concrete results that highlight the company is on-track and gaining momentum," said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer - Ram Truck Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization. "Today we reported sales increased 25 percent compared with April 2009, building on the news from April 21 that the company posted an operating profit of $143 million for the first quarter 2010."

Chrysler Group LLC reported total U.S. sales for April of 95,703 units, an increase of 25 percent versus April 2009 (76,682 units). Sales increased 3 percent compared with March 2010 (92,623 units). Chrysler Group finished the month with a 53-day supply of inventory (196,614 units), a 42 percent decline versus April 2009 (336,913 units). Overall, U.S. industry sales figures for April are projected at an estimated 11.5 SAAR.

"We are proud of our Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram truck dealers, who supported the new company from day one," added Diaz. "They are as excited about our future as we are, and their enthusiasm is spreading to consumers, resulting in increasing showroom traffic and sales."

April U.S. Sales Highlights

• Dodge Brand sales (38,795 units) were up 61 percent compared with April 2009 (24,070 units)
• Dodge Challenger sales (3,713 units) increased 42 percent versus last year (2,619 units) and set a new monthly sales record for the Dodge Challenger
• Dodge Grand Caravan sales (10,435 units) improved 56 percent compared with the same time period last year (6,687 units)
• Dodge Avenger sales increased by triple digit percentages versus April 2009
• Dodge Charger sales increase 90 percent compared with the same time period last year
• Dodge Caliber sales (3,671 units) were up 44 percent compared with last year
• Dodge Nitro increased sales (1,536 units) 14 percent versus the same time period last year
• Chrysler Brand sales (22,386 units) increased 61 percent versus April 2009 (13,874 units)
• Chrysler Sebring (sedan and convertible) both posted triple digit percentage increases compared with April 2009
• Chrysler 300 sales (4,127 units) were up 40 percent versus last year (2,946 units)
• Chrysler Town & Country minivan sales (13,367 units) improved 80 percent compared with April 2009 (7,443 units)
• Jeep Compass sales (1,443 units) were up triple digits versus April 2009 (712 units)
• Jeep Patriot sales (2,404 units) improved 21 percent compared with last year (1,983 units)
• Jeep Liberty (3,490 units) sales increase six percent versus April 2009
• Dodge Dakota improved sales 36 percent versus April 2009
• Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck sales improved 13 percent compared with April 2009

"With competitively priced vehicles that customers want to purchase, the company was able to reduce incentive spending compared with last year, while posting improved sales," said Diaz. "But we aren't resting on this month's results. We are hungry to continue building on the sales improvements — we are just getting started."

Incentives

April incentives are valid through today, May incentives will be announced Tuesday, May 4.

Mopar is getting ready for Moab. Chrysler Group LLC's fifth brand is preparing to reveal a truck-load of "Moparized" vehicles at the 44th annual Easter Jeep® Safari in Moab, Utah which takes place from March 27 through April 4.

Apparently, the Jeep Wrangler is rugged — and capable of hauling an entire division out of the swamp.

The popular two- and four-door sport utility is coming off its best-ever May while buoying a slumping Jeep division beset by declining sales.

According to Autodata Corp., Jeep sold 12,332 Wranglers in May, up 114 percent compared to the same month last year. For the year, 54,699 Wranglers have been sold, an 85 percent increase compared to last year.

Strong Wrangler sales also helped fuel an overall 20 percent May sales increase for Jeep and a 12 percent year-to-date increase compared to last year.

“The Jeep Wrangler is the icon of the brand,” said Chrysler Group spokesman Markus Mainka, adding that no incentives have been offered since the vehicle was redesigned and released last September from a retooled Ohio plant.

Based on Autodata figures, the Wrangler accounted for about 29 percent of Jeep’s total May vehicle sales and 27 percent of the division’s 2007 sales to date.

Wrangler’s strong showing last month also boosted the Chrysler Group division’s market share of U.S. light vehicles from 2.4 percent to 2.7 percent last month.

For 2007, Jeep’s market share increased from 2.6 percent to 3.0 percent.

Industry analyst Alex Rosten said redesigning the Wrangler was the key to Jeep’s recent success.

“Now they can’t make enough of them,” said Rosten, an analyst for EdmundsObserver.com. “It’s always better to expand existing product lines than create a new one.”

But the Wrangler’s success contrasts with slumping sales for other Jeep products.

According to Autodata, every other Jeep vehicle for which comparative statistics were available posted negative marks, led by the Liberty’s 39 percent sales decline compared with May 2006, and its 28 percent year-to-date decline compared to last year.

Grand Cherokee sales fell 18 percent in May and 20 percent for the year to date, while Jeep Commander sales fell 9.7 percent in May and 10 percent so far this year.

According to Jeep officials, May sales for the Compass totaled 3,735, while 4,505 Patriots were sold. In 2007, Jeep has sold 18,812 Compass models and 10,336 Patriots. Both vehicles are in their first year of production.

“We develop each vehicle to appeal to a different kind of customer,” said Chrysler spokesman Dan Bodene.

He said introducing the Compass and Patriot was an attempt to enter new markets by leveraging the company’s recognizable nameplate. Bodene said Jeep will work harder to deliver the message about its core products and may offer new incentives.

Rosten said that might not be enough. He said the Grand Cherokee is “too old,” while new models like the Compass and Patriot are “too redundant.”

“Jeep has shot itself in the foot by releasing the Patriot and the Compass,” he said. “By doing so, they have cannibalized other products, like the Liberty.”

On Tuesday, Jeep canceled its scheduled announcement of a new advertising campaign developed by Cutwater, a San Francisco-based advertising agency.

Chrysler officials said the postponement until later this week was due to a scheduling conflict and had nothing to do with recently released sales numbers.

A Bridgeport man has been arrested after he tried to trade in a Jeep to a car dealer, a month after allegedly stealing the same Jeep from that same dealer, police said.



Jazrahel King, 29, was arrested Saturday after a sales manager at Wholesalers of America recognized King's 2003 black Jeep Liberty as a vehicle that was stolen from his lot in early March.



The sales manager, Diego Coleman, said King brought the sport utility vehicle in, hoping to trade up for a larger vehicle.



"I was left speechless. I couldn't believe that he would try to take back another car and he didn't think we would recognize him," Coleman said Monday.



King had come to the dealership last month to test-drive some vehicles, Coleman said. But there was a problem with King's credit, so salesmen at the dealership scrubbed the test drives.



Coleman said he last saw King wandering around the lot as he was preparing the Jeep for a man who had just bought it. The keys were left in the Jeep.



Then the Jeep and King disappeared, Coleman said.



When police inspected King's Jeep Saturday, they found that the key ring was the same as those issued by Wholesalers of America.



The temporary plate on the vehicle belonged to the dealership and documents found inside showed it belonged to the dealership, Sgt. Ronald Pine said.

Ever wonder how much car companies pay to have their vehicles featured in a major Hollywood movie? Here's a hint, a lot. The Los Angeles Times reported that Chrysler paid $3 million to have its Jeep Wrangler Unlimited featured in "Sahara," a high-budget adventure starring Matthew McConaughey.



The product placement fee was high enough that producers nixed one scene that might have elicited an angry call from Chrysler's marketing department.



"You can't have the truck get almost stuck," producer Karen Baldwin wrote in a March 2004 e-mail to "Sahara" executives. "I would bet that Jeep will have a heart attack when they see that. They want to show how well the Jeep handles and responds -- not that it will get stuck in a tough situation."



Just think how Chrysler felt when "Sahara" bombed at the box office.



Glossing it over



Detroit can rest easy. Our auto industry is still relevant enough to be fodder for Conde Nast's much-awaited new business glossy, Portfolio. The debut issue of the magazine featured a long, largely positive article on Bill Ford and Ford Motor Co. by Betsy Morris, who specialized in long, mostly positive articles about Bill Ford when she was at Fortune.



So what did we learn from this multi-month journalistic effort?



# Bill Ford was a visionary but was reluctant to foist his radical ideas on the company -- and when he tried, he got the slow-walk from his team.



# Former Ford President Jim Padilla fits nicely under a bus.



# Alan Mulally asked Ford family members for their autographs.



# Women in Detroit wear "department store" gowns to the auto show charity black tie.



# Ford's PR masterminds earned their bonus this year.



Time warp



Some people would argue that Detroit's auto industry is behind the times.



Business Insider doesn't agree.



But an item in the new labor contract for Chrysler's new $900 million axle plant in Marysville made us scratch our heads.



Workers at the new plant will not be allowed to listen to "Walkmans" on the plant floor. Sony Walkman cassette players were once the rage -- when Reagan ruled the White House.



Hey guys, join the iPod generation.



But what about the Lions?



Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Katsuaki Watanabe's trip to Michigan didn't turn out as he'd hoped. "The one day I'm in Detroit, the Tigers aren't playing," he told the Society of Automotive Engineers' banquet on Thursday night.



"Instead I was given this Detroit baseball cap and told, 'Better luck next time,'" he said. "I looked forward to coming to Detroit because I'm a big sports fan. The Pistons, the Red Wings and Tigers have really made Detroit a great sports town."



He made absolutely no mention, however, of the Lions, the football team owned by William Clay Ford Sr.



Banquet impresario Paul W. Smith, radio host of 760 WJR, remarked on the omission.



"If we can just get him to be a Lions' fan, and do a joint venture with Ford," Smith mused, "who knows what could happen with the Lions?"



There has been speculation about some sort of Ford-Toyota linkup ever since Ford CEO Alan Mulally met Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho in Japan last December.



No doubt under Toyota, the Lions would be leaner, faster and they might even win.



April Fool's gone awry



Call it an extended April Fool's Day hangover.



Three weeks after the prankster holiday, General Motor's Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz continues to fend off rumors of his retirement -- hatched from a blog.



On April 1, TheCarBlogger posted a faux story on the retirement of the 75-year-old auto exec -- long a topic of fervent speculation in the auto industry.



A perturbed Lutz posted his own blog to clarify.



"I have no plans to retire . . . not June 1, nor any other time soon," he wrote on GM's Fast Lane Web site. "This was clearly an Internet prank gone hopelessly awry -- and not a very clever one either."

The future of the hulking Jeep Commander SUV introduced a little over a year ago looks bleak.



Auto analysts and other industry officials say the Commander, a boxy three-row SUV built at Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, is likely to be discontinued after the 2009 model-year.



"We removed the Commander from our forecast" after the 2009 model year, said Jeff Schuster, forecasting analyst with California-based J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power and other auto forecasting firms gather information from suppliers and other industry sources privy to automakers' future production plans.



Another automotive analyst, who didn't want to speak on the record, shared a similar forecast.



A United Auto Workers official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Detroit News that the union understands the Commander will go out of production in 2008, likely after the 2009 model year.



Rick Deneau, spokesman for DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, said that the automaker does not discuss product plans.



Chrysler Group, which includes the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, swerved off course in the third quarter of last year, losing $1.5 billion. It's expected to outline an extensive restructuring plan Feb. 14.



Schuster said the Commander was too similar in size to the Grand Cherokee built on the same line at Jefferson North. "It didn't bring in different buyers," Schuster said.



Jeep sold 88,497 Commanders in 2006 with the help of heavy discounts. Edmunds.com, a Web site for car shoppers, estimates Jeep offered an average of nearly $8,000 in incentives on the Commander in the last four months of 2006. The sticker price for the Commander starts around $28,000 and can climb above $40,000.



The Commander also appeared to eat into demand for the Grand Cherokee, once one of America's most popular vehicles. Jeep sold 139,148 Grand Cherokee's last year, down 75,000 units from 2005.



"It's a logical move to get rid of the Commander given the small incremental sales increases," said Erich Merkle, an analyst with IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids. "The Commander has had a dramatic negative impact on the Grand Cherokee."



The Commander and other large SUVs have been hurt by fluctuating gas prices and increasing concerns by consumers over gas mileage.



"The product is not moving with consumers and obviously that situation is exacerbated by the continued focus on where gas prices are going to be over the next few years," said Catherine Madden, an analyst with Waltham, Mass.-based Global Insight Inc.



As a result of slow sales, the Jefferson North plant has been idled on and off again over the last four months. This month, production at Jefferson North is scheduled to be down for three weeks and slated to resume Jan. 29, union officials said. For every seven Grand Cherokees that will be produced onward, three Commanders will come off the line.



The Commander is slightly larger than the Grand Cherokee but is not as large as the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford Expedition, which would have distinguished it from the Grand Cherokee. A Commander powered by a 4.7-liter V-8 engine gets 15 miles per gallon in the city and 19 miles per gallon on the highway, according to the EPA.



"If your fuel economy is going to be that bad, go for something that's larger and more interior space and a true third row," Merkle said.



Dealers say the Commander has been successful at drawing buyers into showrooms and winning them over with its roomy interior and third row of seats -- a first for a Jeep.



"The problem is timing," said Mike Rhiel of Mike Riehl's Roseville Chrysler Jeep.



"That (SUV) was launched when fuel prices went up. It didn't have a fair launch because of fuel prices."



Rhiel said sales could rebound if gas prices stay near $2 a gallon.



"If fuel stays down that (SUV) could get some legs," he said.

Media reports here say Jeep is ramping up a new sales offensive in China and plans to import the redesigned Wrangler , the Grand Cherokee and the Commander.



Local press also suggests Chrysler is considering China assembly of the car-based Compass, probably at its Beijing Jeep joint venture.



The Compass is seen as a potential competitor in China to locally built versions of the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 and even some home-grown products such as the Great Wall Hover.



The news reports here say the Chinese-built Compass, equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, likely would sell for just over $30,000