• by Karl Greenberg , October 3, 2011

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 127,334, a 27% increase compared with sales in September 2010 (100,077 units), and the best September sales since 2007.

But more telling, Chrysler's retail sales (excluding fleet) rose 50%. The company says it has beaten the average industry sales increase in eight of nine months this year.

What did it? The company attributes the rise to Chrysler 200 mid-size and Chrysler 300 full-size sedans, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Compass, Dodge Journey crossover, Ram pickup truck, and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans. Pretty much everything.

"Irrespective of the economy, strong products equal strong sales and with our retail sales up a whopping 50 percent that is exactly what we have," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand and Head of U.S. Sales, in a release. "September was also our 18th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth and we have now gained more retail market share than anyone else in the country."

sales were best for The Ram Truck, which saw a 42% sales increase, and the largest percentage gain of all the brands.