Chrysler Group Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne (left) talks with Conner Avenue Assembly Plant employee Emidio Cardillo (center) during a visit to the plant to celebrate the start of production of the 2013 SRT Viper on Jan., 10, 2013. (Photo: Chrysler)

DETROIT Chrysler Group says its net income rose 16 per cent to $507 million in the second quarter on strong U.S. sales of trucks and SUVs.

Chrysler sold 643,000 vehicles worldwide in the April-June period, up 10 per cent from a year ago.

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Revenue was up 7 per cent to $18 billion.

Chryslers first-quarter figures suffered because it was slow to release new versions of the Ram pickup and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV, two of its most popular vehicles. But sales of both vehicles were strong in the second quarter.

U.S. Ram sales rose 30.4 per cent over last year as construction companies and other small businesses raced to replac aging trucks. It was the Rams best second quarter since 2007.

Grand Cherokee sales soared 27 per cent to 47,663.