(Reuters) - The U.S. arm of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (MI:FCHA) (N:FCAU), said it would change the way it reports monthly U.S. vehicle sales, following claims of inflated sales.
The company confirmed a week ago that U.S. regulators were investigating claims by two Chicago-area dealerships that they had been forced by Fiat Chrysler officials to falsify sales reports.
An internal review at Fiat Chrysler had found that its U.S. sales figures were inflated by 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles, Automotive News reported on Monday, citing company sources. The report did not specify the time period.
Fiat Chrysler said on Tuesday said that media reports of inflated sales "mistakenly suggested that potential inaccuracies in the monthly data somehow impact the integrity of FCA's reported revenues in its financial statements."
The company said it would continue to report monthly U.S. sales, including U.S. dealer-reported sales, fleet sales delivered directly by its U.S. unit, and retail sales such as those reported by dealers in Puerto Rico.
Fiat Chrysler spokeswoman Shawn Morgan said the new method will offer "more transparency" and foster "more discipline" in sales reporting, particularly in the area of fleet sales.
The next monthly sales report by major automakers will be next Tuesday for July sales. Most companies report sales on a monthly basis, with Tesla Motors Inc (O:TSLA) being a notable exception.