The end of Chrysler?

[Mark D]

Read on the Chrysler archives Facebook page that Stellantis is going to give the axe to Chrysler. Anyone else hear anything about this? 

[Young Ed]

I've heard rumors that any of the brands that doesn't perform is on the line

Edited August 1 by Young Ed

[Sniper]

Chrysler has been dying on the vine for a few years now.  They have what 2 models?

 

Damn Mercedes

[Plymouthy Adams]

the rape continues for sure.....been a loyal and faithful follower all my life.....but for certain, and it is just not Chrysler though they suffered greatly at the hand of greed and great lies, but no one out there is offering a vehicle that I think is a good value.   The trend to sell bells and whistles and dumb down drivers go well beyond what I call a marketable car for my needs at least. The guise of corporate and big brother owning and have full unlimited access to your car's data and if not given freely will be obtained by court order, your very driving habits, places your travel etc etc....super breach of privacy.  Others may think and feel differently and well, that is their prerogative.

 

Dodge is the flagship of Chrysler these days...Jeep is the SUV king of the company...the Pacifica could well save the Chrysler name for a bit longer.  

Edited August 1 by Plymouthy Adams

[desoto1939]

America sold out to the foreign countries years ago. Just look at our US State Steel manufacturers. 

Here is a prime example.

We had Bethlehem Steel that was a major US Stell producer in the US and also had its main plant in Bethlehem PA.

They constructed a new bridge over the Lehigh river just about 100 feet from the blast Furness and where the steel is stored for delivery. So all they had to do was product the steel girders and then immediately put the steel in place for the bridge.

 

But they could not get the best price so the construction company went to Japan had the steel made in Japan, shipped it over to the USA had it transported to the site and was able to get a cheaper cost.

Company greed got the best of our US Steel and we did not modernize out plants like they did in Japan. Do some research on Deming who told our us companies to modernize but the big companies did not and the Japanese and China is now kicking our butts and they own our country because of all our debt

 

Rich hartung

[plymouthcranbrook]

The Chrysler corporation we all knew and loved died a slow lingering death decades ago. 

[Booger]

props to all the above. and solid points. I ve looked around the past 40 yrs and the big 3 was always lacking to give the American consumer what they wanted. 

oh gee thanks Iacocca for rescuing Chrysler with the gd minivan. hey mom, drop me off a block from school. Ill walk the rest of the way

[QEC]

...for the folks that are completely driven by price, china is their choice. And since so little is actually made in the US, including medicine, the rest of us are slowly going broke trying to 'buy American'. I don't care so much about my situation, but rather, the grandkids.

[Young Ed]

1 hour ago, Booger said:

props to all the above. and solid points. I ve looked around the past 40 yrs and the big 3 was always lacking to give the American consumer what they wanted. 

oh gee thanks Iacocca for rescuing Chrysler with the gd minivan. hey mom, drop me off a block from school. Ill walk the rest of the way

Those minivans really did save the company. People love to hate them but we have 2( not Mopar though) and they are very useful. Other than the station wagons that preceded them there aren't many vehicles that can put a 4x8 sheet good in the back and close the door

[Plymouthy Adams]

I decided for family needs a mini van was due.....but I did a plus one for myself and bought the Dodge minivan with Turbo and 5 speed on the floor....zoom zoom...application application application  I have owned a mini van ever since and currently have 5 vans, 4 licensed, 3 mini, 2 conversion vans, the 5th one, currently undergoing a bit preservation as I can divide some time that way.  I know way too many cars but it is a disease the AMA will one day recognize..

[Booger]

hey I absolutely get it soccer moms and dads.  when you have 2 gigantic dogs (great Pyreness) its a must have. truth be told Ive had 3 minivans and they were PLYMOUTHS,dammit But we usta ride around in the back of pickups.. back when

[Plymouthy Adams]

pickups are for wannna be cowboys with tender feet that pointed boots will not fit and who would not know how to mount a horse proper unless the saddle had arm rests....but given the toss between a horse and pickup...will take the pickup.....don't care to ever own another horse.  

[Sniper]

17 hours ago, desoto1939 said:

America sold out to the foreign countries years ago. Just look at our US State Steel manufacturers. 

Here is a prime example.

We had Bethlehem Steel that was a major US Stell producer in the US and also had its main plant in Bethlehem PA.

They constructed a new bridge over the Lehigh river just about 100 feet from the blast Furness and where the steel is stored for delivery. So all they had to do was product the steel girders and then immediately put the steel in place for the bridge.

 

But they could not get the best price so the construction company went to Japan had the steel made in Japan, shipped it over to the USA had it transported to the site and was able to get a cheaper cost.

Company greed got the best of our US Steel and we did not modernize out plants like they did in Japan. Do some research on Deming who told our us companies to modernize but the big companies did not and the Japanese and China is now kicking our butts and they own our country because of all our debt

 

Rich hartung

 

My old man used to work for Bethlehem.  The Japanese government was subsidizing their steel companies, they couldn't actually make and ship it cheaper otherwise.  So when the game is rigged against you what do you do?  So now our steel companies are either gone or bought up by foreigners and they won.

 

The Chinese are doing the same for their companies right now.

 

I won't go any farther into this as it's treading on politics.

[ggdad1951]

On 7/31/2024 at 8:08 PM, Plymouthy Adams said:

the rape continues for sure.....been a loyal and faithful follower all my life.....but for certain, and it is just not Chrysler though they suffered greatly at the hand of greed and great lies, but no one out there is offering a vehicle that I think is a good value.   The trend to sell bells and whistles and dumb down drivers go well beyond what I call a marketable car for my needs at least. The guise of corporate and big brother owning and have full unlimited access to your car's data and if not given freely will be obtained by court order, your very driving habits, places your travel etc etc....super breach of privacy.  Others may think and feel differently and well, that is their prerogative.

 

Dodge is the flagship of Chrysler these days...Jeep is the SUV king of the company...the Pacifica could well save the Chrysler name for a bit longer.  

 

I discuss the crap they keep adding in the name of "safety"....when all they are trying to do is program people for autonomous vehicles...the old adage of how do you pen a wild pig....a little bit at a time.
 

Jeep is actually starting to show some issues....one of the flagship models, can't remember which, but it was an SUV, that was basically failing at 90% sold w/in a month of sale...basically don't buy one....NOT GOOD for a company on the ropes.

[Plymouthy Adams]

while they all share basically the very same components....the manner and place of assembly still plays an important part in the successful marriage of parts to produced product.  I would never consider buying a Jeep product as an entity....I am not sure you can even get a car in basic introduction level anymore.  I bought the last year they offered baseline in 2015...found it discontinued when I consider a new car for mums....and with bad taste in my mouth over the 'software' issues of ownership and use....many companies uploading your data at every engine start....would maybe consider another entry level baseline no frills car today.   But I do admit to being a dinosaur, contrarisaurus species.  

[JBNeal]

Chrysler has been rumored to be focusing on new EV and PHEV products, lots of development $$$ has gone into this, that generated 2 concept buggies with rumors saying that they were mildly disguised versions of production models...supposedly, this engineering investment was one of the assets that brought about what is now called Stellantis...FCA killed the 200 as part of the plant reorganization to maximize profit margins (no replacement came about); Stella eventually killed the 300 as it was long in tooth and its redesign was axed by FCA years ago to improve profit margins (no replacement there either); an elongated derivative of the Cherokee was to marketed as a Chrysler but it was killed in the production planning phase by FCA (not enough demand to justify expense); Grand Wagoneer was supposed to be a top-of-the-line Chrysler SUV but marketing research showed more sales could be had as a Jeep.

 

If Iacocca had chosen Lutz instead of Eaton as his replacement, daimler would never had happened and Chrysler would probably be healthy today (and Dodge Truck would be selling Rams and Dakotas)...but daimler ruined Chrysler, FCA chose short-term profits to bolster the books instead of long-term viability, and Stella will be swinging the ax on low-profit brands sooner than later.  Will Chrysler survive?  Kinda depends on the plans that were made on the future products that have been rumored to be right around the corner...

[John-T-53]

We need a 'Leon Musk' type to swoop in and buy back Chrysler Corp from Stellantis and make it its own company again. 

 

Bring back the New Yorker, Newport, 300, and T&C !

 

 

 

Edited August 19 by John-T-53

[Plymouthy Adams]

just bring back Chrysler, the model will make themselves available as they are synonymous with the brand...but to poor company has been raped twice and their technology exploited and distributed on too many brand x cars....world class can still have no class....

[49D-24BusCpe]

7 hours ago, John-T-53 said:

We need a 'Leon Musk' type to swoop in and buy back Chrysler Corp from Stellantis and make it its own company again. 

 

Bring back the New Yorker, Newport, 300, and T&C !

 

 

 

        Are you referring to ELON Musk?

 

[John-T-53]

16 hours ago, 49D-24BusCpe said:

        Are you referring to ELON Musk?

 

 

No, his twin brother.... 

[Plymouthy Adams]

brother with the same mother?

[Mark D]

happened to come across this letter on the Mopar insider website. Figured it was appropriate to share on this thread that I started.

 

cheers,

mark

 

A Letter to the People: Saving Chrysler – A Call to Action 

A Call to Investors and Workers to Rebuild the Automaker...

 

I am writing to you today not just as a concerned citizen but as someone with a deep, personal connection to one of our nation’s most iconic brands. My great-grandfather, Walter P. Chrysler, founded the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, a company that has since become a cornerstone of American automotive history. As we approach the 100th anniversary of Chrysler, with plans for what could be the largest gathering of Chrysler products ever seen in North America at next year’s Chrysler Carlisle event, I believe the time for change is now. And I am ready to lead that change.

 

For the past 45 years, I have proudly served as a Brand Ambassador for Chrysler. I’ve seen the highs and lows, the triumphs and challenges. But today, I believe we are at a critical juncture. The Chrysler brand, once a symbol of innovation and American ingenuity, is now at risk of fading into obscurity due to what I believe are poor decisions and mismanagement by its current owners, Stellantis.

 

Stellantis, a company that seems out of touch with the American market, has allowed sales to decline, delayed new product launches, and put the livelihoods of our dealers and workers in jeopardy. Prices are soaring, layoffs are looming, and the future of the brand hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, Stellantis’ CEO, Carlos Tavares, earns a staggering $39.5 million salary, a figure that seems grossly out of proportion given the struggles facing the company.

My great-grandfather was hired by General Motors (GM) in 1911 to save the failing Buick brand. Within a few years, he turned Buick into GM’s most profitable division. But even back then, poor management decisions, like investing in impractical projects, threatened to derail his efforts. This mirrors the situation today, where Stellantis’s investments in ventures like Archer Aviation seem to distract from the core business of building great cars. These funds would be better spent on revitalizing the Chrysler brand.

The current management at Stellantis, overseeing more than 15 different brands, cannot give Chrysler the necessary attention. The result? Mediocrity at best. And now, with the potential entry of Chinese automaker BYD into the U.S. market, our industry faces an even greater threat. The influx of cheap cars could devastate our manufacturing base, and this is not just a possibility—it is a fact.

 

I was hopeful when Christine Feuell was appointed to lead the Chrysler brand. But year after year, we see Chrysler’s products being pushed further down the priority list while slow-selling brands like Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati receive more attention. Chrysler has deep roots in the American market, serving as a reliable and accessible option for the middle class. Does Stellantis understand this? Chrysler needs new products now, not tomorrow, not next year—now.

 

Recently, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain criticized Stellantis and Carlos Tavares for failing to honor contracts. I stand with our workers, but it’s clear that the current approach is not working. Stellantis and GM are pricing themselves out of the market, and layoffs seem inevitable. This is a situation that cannot continue. But I am not without hope. I am confident that investors will see the potential in resurrecting this historic brand. My vision is to bring Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram back as an American-owned company that focuses not only on profits but also on the people who build these cars. I propose creating a new Chrysler Corporation, with workers as part-owners of the company. This would give them a stake in the success of the company and ensure that their jobs are secure.

 

This plan would also allow Stellantis to save face by exploring all options while offloading Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram to a company that truly cares about their future. This is not just a business opportunity but a chance to restore pride in an American icon and secure the future for thousands of workers.

 

The situation is dire, but with the right leadership and a clear vision, I believe we can turn things around. The time for action is now, and I am ready to step up and save the brand that my great-grandfather built. With the support of investors and the commitment of our workers, we can ensure that the Chrysler name lives on for another 100 years.

 

Sincerely,
Frank B. Rhodes, Jr.

Edited August 23 by Mark D