Via MLive

DETROIT, MI- Chrysler today reported U.S. sales last month of 178,652 units, a 14 percent increase compared with sales in April 2013, and the group’s best April sales since 2007.

All of the Auburn Hills-based automaker's brands besides its namesake brand posted year-over-year sales gains in April compared with the same month a year ago. The Jeep brand’s 52 percent increase was the largest sales gain of any brand, followed by Ram Truck up 22 percent, Fiat up 10 percent, Dodge slightly up, and Chrysler down 21 percent.

“Strong consumer demand for our Jeep sport-utility vehicles and Ram pickup trucks continued in April as Chrysler Group extended its streak to 49-consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains,” said Reid Bigland, Head of U.S. Sales. “The spring selling season is heating up as our Jeep brand had its best monthly sales ever. Both of our minivans had a strong April and the Ram pickup truck had its best April sales ever.”

Through the first four months of this year, Chrysler's U.S. sales are up 12 percent from the same time a year ago to nearly 655,000 cars and trucks sold.

Chrysler was the first of the Detroit automakers to report its April sales. General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and non-domestic automakers are scheduled to release their results later today.

Industry analysts expect pent-up demand from the first two months of the year and rising consumer confidence to drive April U.S. auto sales up at least 9 percent for compared to a year ago.

“Things are looking pretty strong, certainly quite a bit better than we saw in January and February,” said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Sales remained quite robust.”

Inclement weather across the Midwest and other parts of the country for the first two months of the year hurt auto sales.

Both compact utility vehicles and full-size trucks, as they have been doing this year, will benefit from this month’s strength, according to Gutierrez.

The expected increase in sales would bring the year-to-date total to 5.15 million vehicles sold, a 3.6 percent increase from this time last year.