“By 2014, 12 nameplates from Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram will have heavy Fiat influence. They will either be developed on Fiat Group platforms or rebadged and imported from the Fiat Group.”
Here’s what they have in store for Jeep:
“Subcompact SUV: A small SUV is planned in 2013, based on the platform for the next generation Fiat Panda Cross.
Patriot: Minor exterior and interior changes are planned for 2010. Production ends in 2012.
Compass: Minor exterior and interior changes are slated for 2010. The Compass will be dropped in 2012.
Compact crossover: The unnamed crossover will be developed on a Fiat Group platform. Sales begin in 2013.
Wrangler: A new interior is scheduled for 2010. A new powertrain will be offered in 2011.
Liberty: Minor cosmetic and interior changes are planned for 2010. The redesigned Liberty debuts in 2013, based on a Fiat Group platform.
Commander: U.S. production ends late in 2010. The Commander may be assembled outside North America for export markets.
Grand Cherokee: The redesigned Grand Cherokee and next-generation Mercedes-Benz full-size SUVs are linked at the hip. Vehicle development started when Daimler owned Chrysler. Component sharing is expected to continue for several years. The redesigned Grand Cherokee debuts in May 2010.”
“On Nov. 4, we’ll get our first look at Chrysler’s future.
That’s the day Fiat plans to reveal its 5-year plan for the Chrysler Group, which includes Chrysler,Dodge and Jeep. Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler and effectively controls the automaker…
Fiat has a strong motivation to get Americans to buy more diesels as an alternative to hybrids, in which it has little expertise. In addition, the diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs Chrysler built during its alliance with Daimler have a loyal following.
Watch for Fiat to promote its diesels for Jeeps and Dodge and Chrysler passenger cars.”
“Chrysler Group LLC will suspend production of its popular Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited vehicles due to a shortage in parts from an unidentified supplier.
Chrysler will idle its Toledo Supplier Park facility in Ohio for one week starting Monday, the company said Friday without disclosing more details. The Wrangler has been one of Chrysler’s best-performing vehicles in terms of sales for the year.
This is the second time Chrysler has changed its production schedule because of a parts issue. The auto maker also delayed adding a second shift to an Illinois plant by more than a month citing “continued stresses” on its parts suppliers.
Friday’s announcement underscores previous reports that tension is growing between Chrysler and its suppliers. In addition to Chrysler’s problem with shortages, some of the smaller parts makers are hesitating to commit to new vehicle projects, according to people familiar with the matter.”
Freep.com ran a story today citing an anonymous source that states Fiat CEO Sergio Marchione is planning cuts for certain Chrysler models that use crossover platforms, selling them only under one of the brand names. Workers at one Toledo plant are concerned that Marchione will cut the slower selling Dodge Nitro creating job cuts in an area that is already hurting economically.
“Marchionne has ordered U.S. executives to come up with model cuts so a particular car or truck is sold only under one of the company’s three brands, Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep.
At the 2.1 million-square-foot Toledo North Jeep plant, which makes the Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty midsize sport utility vehicles, workers are worried that Marchionne will cut the slow-selling Nitro to focus on the Liberty.”
You knew it had to be coming. It’s Summer and people want Jeep Wranglers. Unfortunately, after Chrysler’s Chapter 11 proceedings, new JK body-style Wranglers are tough to come by. As I look out the window at the Jeep Dealership next door, I can count exactly ZERO new Wranglers on the lot. What’s a Jeeper in need of a new Wrangler to do? In the first good news from Jeep in a while, Bloomberg.com is reporting that Chrysler is boosting 2nd-half production to fulfill demand.
“Chrysler plans to run two plants on overtime and is operating a third shift at another factory to restock dwindled inventory on dealer lots…Chrysler has scheduled overtime at its Dodge Ram truck plant in Warren, Michigan, and a plant in Toledo, Ohio, that makes the Jeep Wrangler sport-utility vehicle.”
So hold on just a little bit longer, folks. Hopefully we’ll have a whole fleet of new Wranglers heading to a dealership near you (that made the cut) faster than you can say Sergio Marchionne!
“President Barack Obama said today that Chrysler LLC will file a historic bankruptcy shortly, backed by up to $3.5 billion in new government aid designed to allow a Chrysler-Fiat partnership to emerge from court in 30 to 60 days…
‘The necessary steps have been taken to give one of America’s most storied companies a new lease on life,’ Obama said…
The administration portrays its “surgical” bankruptcy of one of Detroit’s major automakers as just a legal chore, rather than the threat to Chrysler’s existence and the entire U.S. auto industry that Chrysler itself had described less than three months ago. Administration officials said Chrysler would operate as usual during bankruptcy, and that no additional job cuts were anticipated as of now.”
“Ailing car maker Chrysler is close to filing for protection from creditors as soon as next week under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy laws… The move will come whether or not it reaches a buyout deal with Fiat SpA, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the companies.”
Chrysler issued this response:
(from the Chrysler Media Site)
“On March 30, the Administration recognized the viability of Chrysler LLC and its products, in combination with a Fiat alliance.
Chrysler has consistently said that its viability will be enhanced through an alliance with Fiat, as it represents a change in the Company’s business model that expands its global competitiveness.
As we move forward in this process, we believe it’s important to keep all options open. Chrysler will continue to work through the end of the month, based on the direction given by the Presidential Auto Task Force, to secure the support of the necessary stakeholders and reach a successful conclusion that the Administration and U.S. Treasury deems appropriate.”
We’re not sure how this will play out, but we have no doubt that Jeep will soldier on regardless!
MILAN (AP) — Automaker Fiat Group SpA will walk away from a deal to take a 20-percent stake in Chrysler LLC if the U.S. automaker’s unions don’t agree to major cost cuts, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said in an interview published Wednesday.
Fiat and Chrysler are up against an April 30 deadline for Fiat to take a stake in the failing U.S. automaker in exchange for small car technology, but Chrysler first needs concessions from creditors and unions to ink the Fiat deal. If the Fiat alliance isn’t finalized by then, the U.S. government has threatened not to provide any more aid and let Chrysler be sold off in pieces.
“Absolutely we are prepared to walk. There is no doubt in my mind,” he said. “We cannot commit to this organization unless we see light at the end of the tunnel,” Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said in an interview published in the Toronto Globe and Mail.
A Fiat spokesman confirmed Marchionne’s statements. Marchionne was attending a shareholders meeting of the Swiss bank UBS in Zurich on Wednesday.
Marchionne said there is a 50 percent chance the deal will fail because of lack of progress in labor negotiations in both the United States and Canada.
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