Dodge Dart Stalled by Too Many Manual Transmissions?

The Dodge Dart, Chrysler Group LLC's first small car in seven years, is off to a slow sales start in part because dealers don't have enough models with automatic transmissions, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The $16,000 Dart, considered a critical model for Chrysler, debuted in June. But Dodge sold fewer than 1,000 Darts in the first two months. Dealers tell the Journal the problem has been too many cars equipped with manual gearboxes. The 41-mpg Dart Aero variant, which will be available only with a manual transmission, has been delayed from its scheduled debut in the current quarter.

Dodge says it expects August sales to jump to 3,000 units because automatics now account for 70% of the Dart production mix.

The Dart, which has received strong reviews from auto enthusiastic publications, shares its platform with Europe's Alfa Romeo Giulietta. A Chinese variant called the Viaggio small sedan debuted in April. In the U.S., the car competes with such entrenched best-sellers as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.