Latest Chrysler News

[MoparDan]

http://www.allpar.com/cars/adopted/fiat/fiat-cars.html

Fiat Cars: Making Small Big Again

"Automotive News learned that Chrysler plans to use six Fiat models. One is the Fiat Panda Cross, a 1.3-liter-diesel powered off-road vehicle that gets nearly 40 mpg and would likely be sold as a Jeep in 2011 with a 1.2 or 1.4 liter gasoline engine."
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More information plus pics in the article.

[Detroitej72]

FIat isn't the problem...Obama and the UAW are.

More nonsense from the right wing.

Question: In, say, one year, Chrysler is once again thriving, will you be sad to see that happening? Or, are you hoping for failure, as it would enable you to gleefully boast "see, I told you so"?

[MoparDan]

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...running-again/

Viper line up and running again

[MoparDan]

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...er-still-high/

Chrysler inventories lower, still high

June 16th, 2009 by DaveAdmin
Chrysler inventories fell during its bankruptcy period, with all factories shut down, but were still high by import standards – and close to GM’s inventories. This data was provided by Automotive News, covers the United States, and was current as of June 1.
Overall, Chrysler ended the month with 86 days’ supply, or 260,400 vehicles. Dodge trucks were the most plentiful [[97 days) followed by Chrysler [[93 days), though since many sales are to fleets and there were few if any fleet buys during the shutdown period, those figures might be somewhat misleading. Dodge had 68,700 Rams in stock on June 1 – compared with 42,600 Doge cars and 63,900 Jeeps.
The largest inventory for a true Chrysler vehicle continues to be the PT Cruiser, with 158 days’ supply – beaten only by the Mercedes-built Sprinter. The lowest supply of a currently produced vehicle was for the Challenger, at 28 days [[2,900 units); it was followed by Wrangler, with 38 days. Durango and Pacficia continue to be sold down, with just 500 Pacificas left and 2,800 Durangos, and 1,500 Aspens.
A plentiful supply of minivans remains in the U.S. [[though Canadian supply is said to be constricted), with 16,000 Caravans and 18,800 Town & Countries.
The effects of closing dealers’ fire sales will likely not be seen in these figures. Days’ supply must be taken with a grain of salt since sales were artificially depressed by lack of fleet sales, and increased by people hoping to get a bargain from bankruptcy and those dealers which were able to sell off vehicles at low prices before June 1.

[ccbatson]

Good, albeit temporary news about Viper.

[MoparDan]

Good, albeit temporary news about Viper.

Cerberus wanted to sell the operation but I haven't heard what Fiat wants to do with it.

[Bigb23]

That Panda cross looks pretty small for the American off road market.

Attachment 1804

[MoparDan]

That Panda cross looks pretty small for the American off road market.

Attachment 1804

You better be peddling fast to reach highway speed. Excellent MPG though...

[MoparDan]

Some good news!
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Chrysl...4&asset=&ccode=

Chrysler to restart 7 assembly plants

Chrysler to restart 7 assembly plants June 29 after emerging from bankruptcy protection

• By Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer
• On Wednesday June 17, 2009, 5:02 pm EDT

DETROIT [[AP) -- Chrysler Group LLC plans to restart seven assembly plants at the end of June after shutting down all of its factories during its six-week stay in bankruptcy protection.

The company on Wednesday confirmed that factories in Sterling Heights and Warren, Michigan; St. Louis; Toledo, Ohio; Brampton and Windsor, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico, would restart operations June 29. A plant in Detroit that makes the Dodge Viper sports car restarted Monday.
In addition, parts stamping, engine and transmission factories that feed those plants also will restart June 29, Chrysler said in a statement.
The company had shut down all of its manufacturing operations May 4, shortly after filing for bankruptcy protection April 30. But inventories of vehicles made by the eight plants have started to shrink, said spokeswoman Dianna Gutierrez.
The assembly plants that are restarting employ about 15,000 workers, according to Chrysler's Web site.
Restart of the rest of the company's factories will be announced later, the statement said, probably after the normal two-week summer break in which all factories will be closed the weeks of July 13 and 20.
When the factories come back on line, their work will be done under a different manufacturing system, one used in Europe by Fiat Group SpA called "World Class Manufacturing."
Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy protection on June 10, the same day most of its assets were transferred to a new company run by Fiat, which now controls the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker.

[ccbatson]

I think the Viper is a poster child for what liberals want to eliminate in the market, as such, I expect it will go away pretty soon.

[MoparDan]

Back to the topic at hand...
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fiat-r...3&asset=&ccode=

Fiat calls for restructuring of auto industry in the face of crisis

Thursday June 18, 2009, 7:12 am EDT
ROME [[AP) -- Fiat, which has recently taken a controlling stake in Chrysler, called Thursday for a "serious restructuring" of the auto industry, saying the global crisis has worsened the problem of production overcapacity.

Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne held a meeting with the Italian government and unions at the premier's office in Rome to illustrate the group's mid-term program. Premier Silvio Berlusconi attended the talks.
Earlier in June Fiat took on most of Chrysler's assets in exchange for technology and management know-how. The alliance created the 6th largest automaker worldwide, according to Fiat.
"The global crisis has further aggravated the problem of production overcapacity that has been plaguing the automotive industry for years," said a statement released by Fiat after the talks. "A serious restructuring of the automotive industry is now absolutely necessary if it is to be economically viable."
Fiat also said that "far-reaching strategic measures are necessary to achieve an adequate level of critical mass, increase volumes produced for each platform and expand geographic presence." It said the deal with Chrysler was part of that strategic approach.
During the talks, Fiat outlined its production plans in Italian plants. Marchionne called for a concerted effort, saying that "maintaining equilibrium in employment levels in the face of these extremely difficult market conditions is no easy task."

[Detroitej72]

I think the Viper is a poster child for what liberals want to eliminate in the market, as such, I expect it will go away pretty soon.

Some fringe left elements probably would love to see it die, but that is not the opinion of the majority of liberals and moderates like myself.

[jams]

Nope, our plan was to kill Oldsmobile, only 50+ year olds white people drove those......

Are you really a doctor with cognitive ability?

[ccbatson]

Nor I Detroitej72 [[you have no idea how much so). The real question is what authority does this "fringe element" have? Obama being a leader of this radical movement is very concerning given the significant share he/the government holds in Chrysler [[and more so with GM).

[Bigb23]

The real question is what authority does this "fringe element" have? Obama being a leader of this radical movement is very concerning given the significant share he/the government holds in Chrysler [[and more so with GM).

If this is his bedside chatting as a physician, than euthanize me now.

[ccbatson]

Never give up hope that easily BigB.

[MoparDan]

Off topic, but since I started this thread...sorry CC but you left yourself wide open on this one.

Never give up hope that easily BigB.

[MoparDan]

And now, back to on topic stuff...

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...a-in-november/

HXC Hemi Cuda to debut at SEMA in November

HXC Performance, a Chicago-based automotive design, manufacturing and consulting firm, will show its new 2011 HXC Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible at the Specialty Equipment Market Association [[SEMA) show to be held November 3-6 in Las Vegas.
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More info in the article & a few artist rendering pics.

[ccbatson]

The modifiers are still true American enterprises to be applauded. Of course, if they have little or nothing to modify, that would be problematic for them and for the enthusiast consumers.

[MoparDan]

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...loans-quickly/

Iacocca to Chrysler: Repay loans quickly

June 22nd, 2009
by Bill Cawthon
Lee Iacocca, Chrysler’s CEO the last time it needed financial help from Washington, says the new Chrysler needs to repay billions of dollars in federal loans as fast as it can.

Iacocca, now 84 and living in California, was not happy to see Chrysler under government control again, but admitted the alternative was probably liquidation. He said the government’s intervention and new influence should be a powerful motivator to get the loans repaid.
“They’re on you day and night. Their oversight is just too extreme,� Iacocca told the Associated Press. “That’s why our 10-year loan, we paid it back in three years. We couldn’t stand the government. The bureaucracy kills you.�
Iacocca went on to say he has faith in Sergio Marchionne, the new CEO of Chrysler Group and Fiat SpA, and he’s glad to see Ford, another of his previous employers, getting by without government aid. He added that he would invest in Chrysler if the stock was available and would invest in Ford, but he has reservations about General Motors. Iacocca says GM has more serious problems than Chrysler did.

[ccbatson]

Iacocca has it right...but too late, Cerebrus is out, Fiat, the Union, and Obama are in...it is too late.

[reddog289]

MoparDan , Thanks for the pix of the Hemi Cuda. Eversince the the Challenger came out I have been wondering about the "What If" deal with the Cuda.

[ccbatson]

I suppose, for what it is worth, we could root for Fiat, and hope that they succeed after which they pay back the government [[getting them out of the business). However, they are stuck with the Union ownership problem.

[Stosh]

I suppose, for what it is worth, we could root for Fiat, and hope that they succeed after which they pay back the government [[getting them out of the business). However, they are stuck with the Union ownership problem.

An obvious case of lack of reading comprehension, or just plain pig-headedness?

I'm going to state this as s l o w l y a s I c a n. T h e y w i l l s e l l t h e s t o c k.

[ccbatson]

Who? Too whom? Why would anyone buy it? Why would the UAW give up control?