Filed under: Chrysler, LLC.
Chrysler's Nardelli vows to keep brands, maybe cut vehicles
Bob Nardelli, Chrysler LLC's new chief-exec and chairman, made it clear today in his first public speech that Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep are safe, but some of the products in the automaker's lineup may face the axe in the near future. Addressing the Automotive Press Association today, Nardelli talked about the future of Chrysler, its brands and the recent high-profile hires of Jim Press and Phil Murtaugh. Restructuring the ailing automaker will involve some tough decisions on the product front, and Nardelli made it clear that, "We have to look very hard at some of the product within those brands." We're hoping that the Jeep Compass is euthanized first. What say you?
Top tip Peter!
[Source: CNN Money]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Adam 4:30PM (9/07/2007)
Jeep Truck, bring it
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Adam 4:31PM (9/07/2007)
Seriously, why Mario? Can I get a Master Chief?
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Hooper 4:38PM (9/07/2007)
The headline of this item should read "...maybe cut models." As it reads now, it says that Nardelli is considering cutting production.
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Alex 4:39PM (9/07/2007)
The PT Cruiser, Caliber, and Compass. Please kill them. Thanks.
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Kowell 4:46PM (9/07/2007)
A much needed first move. However a Caliber with a regular 5 speed automatic and a decent interior may be acceptable. While we're at it, please also kill the Aspen, Pacifica and Town&Country. The 300 is the only Chrysler that deserves to live on. Dodge and Jeep are OK
sw 4:49PM (9/07/2007)
The compass is way too much of a cash cow. The other two you mentioned, probably
rodan32 5:00PM (9/07/2007)
The PT Cruiser has been a decent seller; I wouldn't understand cutting a fairly successful car from the lineup. Same goes for the Caliber, which fits a good niche in the market and is a decent value as well. The Compass is completely outside the Jeep brand, and the Nitro is really a bad product for Dodge; I'd start the there.
Altair 5:21PM (9/07/2007)
I doubt that the Caliber and Compass will be axed because they are part of a 20% sales increase outside of N. America.
"These second quarter figures include a sales increase of 10.7 percent in Canada (70,148 units) and a 20.4 percent sales increase outside of North America (61,743 units).
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The increases in sales were driven by the worldwide appeal and strong customer interest in the Chrysler Group's new fuel-efficient models including the Chrysler Sebring, Jeep(R) Compass, Jeep Patriot, Dodge Avenger and the Dodge Caliber."
http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-news/25-int/29700/index.html
As much as Americans may not like them, they do appeal to other countries and the auto industry is a global industry.
The PT just needs an update to compete with the xB, Element, etc...
I would like to see the Compass cut if only because it dilutes the Jeep brand. The Compass is not a "Jeep thing(tm)"
Ian 1:30AM (9/08/2007)
The PT Cruiser is one of the least failure-prone cars Chrysler has made in my lifetime. If they axe it they'd be fools not to replace it with something based on it, mechanically. If they could improve the fuel economy while keeping it essentially what it has been for the last 7 years, they can keep it a winner.
Jeep should have neither the Compass nor the Patriot.
whofan 4:42PM (9/07/2007)
The Compass and Aspen maybe Durango too could be cut. I think another small car should be added but not a Chinese one.
Chrysler could have Plymouth to be the economy car line. Cutting models might make sense but brands? There are times I wish Plymouth was back.
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CJ 4:43PM (9/07/2007)
COMPASS! Cut it please. Never understood why it is there along with the Patriot.
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Racer45 4:36PM (9/08/2007)
The Patriot is for those of us who want to replace our cherokee and don't want to spend 40k on a commander, however it need to have a chrome grille as an option. Compass should go and the Jeep sportster concept from a few years ago should come back.
bhupi 4:44PM (9/07/2007)
Please cut the SEBRING first. Who would design such a car. following which "WHO WOULD APPROVE such a DESIGN??"
Next is the Caliber. Absolutely Hopeless. I don't understand how these designs make it all the way to production even. Clearly they've got bad designers and design chiefs as well who approve this. Even chrysler folks wudnt buy the current sebring and caliber theyre THAT ugly.
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Tool 4:52PM (9/07/2007)
The entire Chrysler - Dodge - Jeep line-up is a disaster. Too much overlap . . . and the design? It's amazing that this shit ever got out of a consumer clinic alive.
They need focused products that are best-in-class in the segments they play in. A common design language, especially for Chrysler (Dodge is arguably in better shape) that could really leverage the 300C.
And as for the 2nd gen 300C? Copy the Ford Interceptor since Ford doesn't have the balls to do it themselves.
Thankfully, Jim Press is coming in at a time to have major influence in the product strategy. He's got the magic touch, if anyone does.
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TriShield 4:56PM (9/07/2007)
Chrysler's immediate issue is too many unpopular and overlapping models. It's good to hear Nardelli will immediately address that.
It's obvious the Compass and Patriot need to be discontinued today. They can also eliminate the Chrysler Aspen.
Dodge is Chrysler's mainstream product line from cheap economy cars to big bad trucks and crossovers. Chrysler as a brand should be positioned similar to Lincoln or Cadillac. Jeep is all about off-road, and should never be diluted with a car, crossover, or anything that doesn't have serious off-road capability. Jeep is only slightly less niche than HUMMER.
When Chrysler understands their brands, brand image, and how they should be stacked they will be better off.
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iamhoff 6:38PM (9/07/2007)
Exactly. Once they figure out the brand dynamics, figure out what products can best serve those brands, a few areas where they can cost-share across platforms, then they can make better products. And the first casualty of it all has GOT to be the worthless Compass. I'm not too concerned about the Patriot, because it is styled appropriately and presents as having some off-road capability. With the exception of the Compass, at least Jeep has a relatively cohesive design flavor. Dodge is also getting there. Chrysler, though, has got to get everyone on the same page. Style, powertrains, quality execution. You'd think it wouldn't be that difficult.
Tim 4:58PM (9/07/2007)
DODGE I mean CHRYSLER aSPEN. Then the Sebring, and then the PT cruiser. Jeep Compass, Dodge Ram or Dakota
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dakota 2:45PM (9/08/2007)
Oh yea lets cut one of your cash cows, the Ram lineup... Boy your an idiot.
Brad 5:01PM (9/07/2007)
Compass, Magnum, Commander, and Aspen definitely need to go. Caliber just needs a little tweaking. They still need a small 4dr sedan for a Neon replacement. PT Cruiser is probably already going out in it's current form. Sebring needs to be overhauled because it seems everyone is against it.
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psarhjinian 2:50AM (9/08/2007)
I agreee with these, and would add the Patroit (which is about as useless as the Compass) and the Nitro (which competes with the Liberty) to the list...
...but why the Magnum? It sells well, it's a great design and it's gotten (and still gets) quite favourable reviews. Plus it (and the 300C and PT) are about the only models that sell to the full-set-of-teeth-and-no-mullet in reasonable quantities. They'd be fools to kill one of their hip products.
I'd say the Sebring needs a redesign (or an axing altogether) and the Calibre some polish. The Challenger, IMO, should never see the light of day. The retro-muscle trend is pretty much played out