Chrysler News
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Chrysler intends to launch its first all-electric model by next year according to a recent interview with Lou Rhodes, Chrysler's ENVI division president, and unlike its rivals, the now-Fiat-aligned carmaker is planning a high-performance sports model as its entry into the burgeoning segment. Chrysler’s pre-bankruptcy viability plan also told of the Circuit EV's production, but intervening events but the plan under considerable doubt. But the interview with Rhodes makes it clear that the company’s first electric car will be a production version of the Circuit EV. With performance...
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Video: Dodge Viper lives, will see production beyond 2009In the tumble of Fiat and Chrysler's alliance following Chrysler's bankruptcy, the future of the Viper has been a back-burner issue, but today, Dodge President and CEO Mike Accavitti announced that the Viper will in fact see continued production under the company's new leadership. In the video...
Nelson Ireson -
Restructured ‘Chrysler Group’ completes formation of new boardWith Chrysler’s bankruptcy process now well and truly behind it, and the appointment of a new name and CEO taken care of, the final steps of the company’s restructuring are finally coming to head. Today the company announced the appointment of additional members to its board of...
Ralph Hanson -
Report: Alfa Romeo to sell re-branded Dodge cars in EuropeLast week we brought you news of Alfa Romeo's plans for the U.S. and the support and enthusiasm that's growing over Alfa's attractive designs. This week there's news of cars going the other way across the Atlantic, this time Dodges to be re-branded as Alfa Romeos for Europe. It's not the only...
Alex Kaufmann -
Germans, luxury marques lead diesel's U.S. comebackIt's easy to blame the economy or the consequent poor car market for the delay of diesels from Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, but that hasn't kept the Germans at BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen from turning up the wick on oil-burners. In fact, it's quite the...
Nelson Ireson -
Chrysler will sell four different Fiat 500 variants in U.S.Many in the U.S. have been hoping to receive the wildly popular Fiat 500 minicar for the past couple of years but a lack of interest in small cars has largely held it back. Now, with Fiat's alliance with Chrysler in place the Italian auto giant has a gateway to the lucrative U.S. market and the...
James Martinez -
Alfa Romeo is a brand remembered fondly in living memory, and in the case of the 8C, desired greatly in the present, in the United States. Fiat's reputation with Americans is a different story - and that's why CEO Sergio Marchionne is focusing his efforts on the Alfa Romeo nameplate. So far only the Fiat 500 will be sold in the U.S. as a Fiat. Any other Euro-styled cars brought into the U.S. will wear Alfa Romeo badging, reports the Detroit Free Press. And some of those Alfas sold here could even be built here, with the potential for export to Europe as well. One of the vehicles likely to see...
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Study: Domestic North American production outpaced by European, Asian brands by 2012As a side effect of the current industry downturn and the subsequent realignment of capacity at America's major domestic car manufacturers, the once-Big Three could be outstripped in North American production by a combination of foreign companies by 2012, including BMW and Porsche-owned Volkswagen...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler looking to replace Sebring and Avenger with new RWD sedanChrysler’s viability plan presented to the U.S. Treasury back in February turned out to be a goldmine for information about the company’s future plans. Not only were there details about the next-generation Chrysler 300 and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the documents also outlined...
James Martinez -
Report: Buick to get two-mode hybrid for new crossoverIf the rumors are true, General Motors may be in the process of developing a new Buick crossover - with a new two-mode plug-in hybrid engine that should take the alternative fuels fight to its competitors. GM, Daimler, Chrysler and BMW have been jointly developing the two-mode hybrid for some time...
Alex Kaufmann -
Chrysler resumes production post bankruptcy, starts with Dodge Viper SRT10With the Dodge Viper business safely in Fiat’s hands for now, production at the car’s Conner Avenue plant in Michigan has finally resumed. Chrysler stopped production at all of its North American plants when it filed for bankruptcy on April 30. The information was confirmed to the Wall...
Ralph Hanson -
New Alfa Romeo 169 flagship may ride on Chrysler 300 LX platformThe long-awaited return of Fiat and Alfa Romeo is due to get underway soon following the signing of the new alliance with Chrysler, and word of the first cars to be brought in is finally emerging. While most of the Italian cars will be skewed towards the smaller end of town, one of the most...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
It's easy to look at the bailouts and bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler as a big-government bonanza. Some even see tints of socialism in the loans and subsequent government ownership stakes. But as Ford points out today, there was more at stake than just two companies. The entire industry, and in some ways, the entire U.S. economy, was riding on the survival of GM and Chrysler, says Ford Motor Co executive chairman Bill Ford, Jr. "It would have been so catastrophic to have a supply-base meltdown because it would have brought down all the auto manufacturers and frankly some other...
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Dodge Viper business turned over to FiatChrysler has been trying to sell its Dodge Viper sports car business since late last year but according to the struggling automaker, the once prominent brand couldn’t even muster up offers of $10 million. In fact, Chrysler insisted that it had received only one bid of $5.5 million from Devon...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Significant changes planned for ‘new’ Chrysler lineupChrysler’s viability plan presented to the U.S. Treasury back in February turned out to be a goldmine for information about the company’s future plans. Not only were there details about the next-generation Chrysler 300 and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the documents also outlined...
Jeremy Weber -
Chrysler passed on multi-million dollar offers for Dodge Viper businessYou would think that an entity with as much cachet as the Dodge Viper business would have no trouble being sold during a fire sale but according to Chrysler the business couldn’t even muster up offers of $10 million. Reports last month that only one offer was made for the Viper business has...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fiat-Chrysler deal official, Marchionne takes helm as CEOAfter a dramatic courtship, government intervention and the odd Supreme Court order, Fiat and Chrysler have finally tied the knot. The new 'global strategic alliance' expands Fiat's reach back into the U.S., while offering the 'new' Chrysler - which is already in operation - the support it needs to...
Nelson Ireson -
GM plans major changes for remaining dealershipsGeneral Motors already has plans to slash hundreds of its dealers late next year, but for the dealers who make it through the cuts it won't just be a case of 'business as usual'. Instead, the struggling automaker will be modifying its contracts with the remaining 4,100 or so dealers in its network...
James Martinez -
The Supreme Court has approved the sale of substantially all of Chrysler's assets to Fiat, helping to finalize their alliance as well as the American automaker’s bankruptcy proceedings. Approval was given for the $2 billion sale of the assets to a new company that will be 68% controlled by a healthcare trust aligned with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. Fiat will control 20%, while the U.S. and Canadian governments will control the remaining 12%. Objectors to the deal had included a group of Indiana pension funds holding secured debt, some of the 789 dealerships Chrysler plans to...
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Marchionne says Fiat will stick with Chrysler deal despite delayAlthough Fiat's purchase of Chrysler seemed almost a done deal last week, today the U.S. Supreme Court has issued an indefinite stay on the sale until it can decide whether to hear an appeal from some of Chrysler's creditors. But the delay won't stop Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne from sticking to the...
Nelson Ireson -
Judge allows sale of Chrysler assets to FiatA U.S. bankruptcy judge on Sunday approved the sale of substantially all of Chrysler's assets to Fiat, helping to finalize the two automaker’s alliance as well as the American company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Approval was given for the $2 billion sale of the assets to a new company...
Jeremy Weber -
Another round of dealer cuts imminent at GMJust a couple of weeks ago General Motors revealed that it would be cutting ties with over 1,100 dealerships, and the bad news keeps coming for dealers as the struggling automaker is expected to cut a further 450 dealerships in the coming months. Many dealerships are under franchise agreements with...
Ralph Hanson -
Fiat skips Opel talks, Chrysler deal to be finalized todayThe future of General Motors’ European division Opel will soon be a lot clearer as a buyer for the brand is expected to be announced within the next week. Up until now, one of the leading bidders for the brand was Fiat but today it has been revealed that the Italian auto giant has walked away...
Alex Kaufmann -
Warren encouraging GM to move corporate HQ with tax breaksDetroit has long been the heart of America's automotive industry, but 2009 has been a major period of upheaval for the city, with further shocks expected to come - including the possibility that General Motors will move its corporate headquarters out of Detroit downtown area and into a neighbouring...
Alex Kaufmann