Dodge Challenger Sales Boom Thanks to Refreshed 2015 Models

While the Dodge Challenger trailed both the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro in January sales, the numbers from the first month of 2015 are a very clear sign that the 2015 Challenger has led to a big spike in muscle car sales for the Chrysler Group – one which is likely to continue as we get into the summer.

Over the past 37 months (dating back to January 2012), the Dodge Challenger has ranked third in muscle car sales all but one time. In the modern era of the Challenger, it has never led the segment in sales and the only time that it was second came back in September 2014, when the Challenger outsold the Mustang, but fell short of the Camaro. Because of this, the muscle car sales race coverage doesn’t touch much on the Challenger, but since the 2015 models began reaching dealerships late last year, the sales numbers for the brawny Mopar muscle car has been consistently strong.

While the Dodge Challenger might not pose a real risk to the Mustang and Camaro, the continued success of the 2015 models is something that should be noted by everyone in the industry.

Challenger Sales Soar with 2015 Models
The 2015 Dodge Challenger began reaching dealerships and owners at full force late in 2014, and that led to huge year over year sales increases through the 4th quarter of the year. Dodge sold 4,140 Challengers in October 2014, 4,157 Challengers in November 2014 and 4,938 Challengers in December 2014 for a total of 13,235 new Mopar muscle cars delivered in the 4th quarter of the year. When we add up the numbers from the same months in 2013 (3,256 in October, 2,757 in November, 2,872 in December), we get a total of just 8,885 Challengers sold in the 4th quarter of 2013. This means that the arrival of the refreshed 2015 Challenger helped lead to an increase of 49% in the 4th quarter of 2014.

In January 2015, winter finally hit many parts of the United States for the first time this season and that led to reduced sports car sales in many northern areas, but the Challenger still posted the best January in the modern history of the model. Since being introduced back in 2008, the Challenger has never sold more units in January than it did in 2015 with 4,592 units sold. For comparison, Dodge sold just 2,458 Challengers in January 2014, 3,497 Challengers in January 2013 and 2,551 Challengers in January 2012.

Winter is traditionally the worse time of year for muscle car sales, yet the 2015 Dodge Challenger has sold at record levels…and its only likely to get better as the weather warms up around the US.

2015 Challenger Galleries:
The 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack in Sublime
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in TorRed
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in Sublime

New Models Lead to More Sales
The 2015 Dodge Challenger has sold well since hitting dealerships late last year, but that is to be expected from any new version of a model with such a strong enthusiast community. The early rush to get the new Hellcat Challenger has helped bolster sales over the last two months while the general interest in the redesigned Challenger has further helped sales numbers to grow, so it isn’t just Hellcat enthusiasm boosting the sales figures.

In addition to the popularity of these new models growing as winter fades, the Dodge brand has more new Challenger trimlines planned for a spring arrival. When the 2015 Challenger was first introduced last April in New York, the SRT Hellcat model wasn’t there, but there were two different trimlines with the modern Shaker hood design. Both the Challenger R/T with the 5.7L Hemi and the R/T Scat Pack with the 6.4L Hemi were introduced in New York, but those models haven’t been marketed as the new models have reached showrooms. Instead, Chrysler has delayed the arrival of the 2015 Challenger Shaker models, with an expected spring arrival of the 375 and 485 horsepower Shaker models. When the Shaker versions of the 2015 Challenger arrive later this year, we can expect to see another sales rush and while it won’t be anywhere near the initial rush last year for the 2015 Challenger – the demand for the Shaker packages could help keep Challenger sales strong well into the summer months.