Chrysler Group reported a second quarter profit of $436 million US Monday, an $806 million improvement from the $370 million net loss in the same period a year earlier.

The loss last year had included a $551 million charge, mainly because it refinanced government bailout loans. Chrysler's corporate forerunner received $12.5 billion in loans during the recession in 2009.

Excluding that charge, net income rose by 141 per cent from $181 million.

Net revenue was $16.8 billion, up 23 per cent from $13.7 billion a year earlier.

Worldwide vehicle sales for the second quarter totaled 582,000, the firm said in a release, up 20 per cent from a year ago.

Market share in Canada was 14.5 per cent.

"Our results reflect a tireless pursuit by the people of Chrysler Group to deliver the very best quality and value across our brands," said CEO Sergio Marchionne in a release.

Unlike other U.S.-based automakers, Chrysler is benefiting from its heavy dependance on the United States car market.

While other companies are losing money in Europe, Chrysler has little presence there. The company gets 75 per cent of its sales from the U.S., where the market has been growing for the past three years.

With files from The Associated Press