Could Chrysler Be Killed This Friday?

MSN ^ | 5-30-2018 | Chris Bruce

[tcrlaf]

Swirling rumors suggest that one of America's oldest remaining automakers could be on the chopping block.

Sergio Marchionne will hold an investor's meeting in Italy on Friday, June 1, in Balocco, Italy, where the CEO will possibly kill one the corporation's most historic brands. FCA specialist Larry P. Vellequette of Automotive News reports that "a source told a European colleague" that Marchionne would declare the end of the Chrysler brand in the speech to investors.

In addition, Marchionne could detail plans to pull Fiat out of the United States and China, according to Automotive News. The brand would re-focus on building vehicles for Europe, Brazil, and emerging markets.

FCA's big strategic pivot would free up money to invest even more into Jeep, which is already the corporation's most profitable division. Among the new products reportedly on the way, there would be an even smaller SUV below the Renegade and the luxurious Grand Wagoneer for challenging the upper end of the segment.

[hinckley buzzard]

Omigod. a close friend was working on the software for the Kcar. More than once he shook his head and said “this is why we drink.”

[hinckley buzzard]

IDK what “brand reliability” even means, but I do know Jeeps have a robust resale value.

[henkster]

Chrysler died years ago. This is just the final interment of the corpse.

[miliantnutcase]

Lots of 300Cs just not many 2005 or earlier.

[Lagmeister]

Not true.

[henkster]

With the UAW its not so much the wages, its the legacy health care costs. Good look at the work force leaving a UAW plant and then aske yourself if you want to insure them in retirement. It adds too much to the cost of the vehicle to make it competitive.

[OldMissileer]

Chrysler has gone to "L".

Nope. They went to plaid!

[Lean-Right]

I’ve never owned a Jap car, and
never will, although the K car
did have a Mitsubishi engine.
It’s always been “American”
brand cars for me. Ford and
Jeep mostly, with a couple
Pontiac’s thrown in. I’m in
process now of building a
1940 Plymouth pickup.

[Spktyr]

Here's more evidence. The PT Cruiser was to be a 60,000 unit sales/year car to break even. When sales dropped to 50K and then to 19K a year, Chrysler tried to do what they could to resurrect sales but eventually they gave up. In truth the PT Cruiser was the best of the 'retromobile' styled cars from Detroit in terms of sales and it didn't sell that well. The rest of them were sales flops. The Prowler, the HHR, the SSR, the retro Thunderbird - figuratively nobody bought them and they were all sales flops.

[SamAdams76]

She wants a car with a cup holder armrest
She wants a car that will get her there
She's changing her name
From Kitty to Karen
She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron

[Responsibility2nd]

Actually the Chrysler 300 and the derivatives were Diamler Chrysler products. Very few people remember the Chrysler crossfire. A buddy of mine had one. It was heavily influenced by German ingenuity.

[dznutz]

Instead they got Jack Jones and "velour upon the seats." New Yorker

[dznutz]

Oops. Wrong one. New Yorker

[catnipman]

“Marchionne could detail plans to pull Fiat out of the United States”

might as well; i don’t think they’re selling very many fiats here anymore ... several years ago when they had big TV ad campaign going, I’d see a few on the roads, but now if i see one per month, that’s a lot ...

[Responsibility2nd]

I had one of those. A 1996 Sebring convertible. A few years after that I owned a 1997 Ford Mustang convertible. You know which was the far better car?

The Chrysler.

[OldMissileer]

Engine light usually means nothing more than emissions (The Environment(TM)) these days. EGR valve, etc. You can afford to ignore it unless you must go through Enviro(TM) inspections.

I know that many Chrysler products set the Check Engine light to come on at a certain mileage as a warning to replace the O2 senors. My 1990 Grand Voyager did just that and even though I did replace them I didn't have the proper scan tool so had to get a shop to reset the stupid light.

My 2005 Town & Country didn't do that so YMMV depending on the model year of your vehicle.

[Responsibility2nd]

Sam. I don’t mind telling you. I want a girl with the short skirt and a long jacket.

[catnipman]

“I’m nostalgic, but not a complete retard. “

LOL!

great line!

[SamAdams76]

That was a great series of commercials by Jack Jones. Really brings back the era of the mid 1970s for me.

Car seats back then were plush! And no bucket seats yet so your girlfriend could snuggle right up to you while you were driving.

Here's a Jack Jones New Yorker commercial that only aired during the 1975 World Series. Red Sox vs the Reds.

[gigster]

I am a Major Mopar Guy, so this news is a dagger through my heart.