Chrysler's U.S. sales rise 12 percent in August DETROIT Chrysler says its U.S. sales rose 12 percent last month for its best August in six years. Chrysler says it sold almost 166,000 cars and trucks last month. The company predicts that total U.S. sales will run at an annual rate of 16.1 million. That could make August the auto industry's best month since May of 2007, before the Great Recession. For Chrysler, the Ram pickup had its best August since 2006, with sales up 31 percent. Jeep brand sales rose 8 percent. Grand Cherokee SUV sales were up 40 percent. August was the 41st-straight month of year-over-year sales gains for Chrysler. All automakers report sales numbers Wednesday. Analysts expect total sales to rise about 12 percent from a year ago.