Nardelli: Chrysler open to more partnerships
Last month, a major announcement was made regarding an effort between Nissan and Chrysler to share products. Specifically, Nissan will build a small car for Chrysler and receive a large truck in return. It seems as if the Pentastar brand could use some more help when it comes to offering the types of vehicles that the public wants as quickly as possible. To that end, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli says, "If we can have similar arrangements ... and it makes financial sense and supports our dealer network relative to what customers are telling them they want, we're going to go do it." What customers want is fuel efficient vehicles, something which Chrysler is not exactly well positioned with at the moment.In related news, Nardelli also mentions that Chrysler sees hybrids and electric cars as the most viable options moving forward to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The first hybrid vehicles from Chrysler are expected to be the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUV's, which use a version of the dual mode hybrid system that is currently offered by GM on the Tahoe and Yukon.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rouse42 8:38AM (5/28/2008)
were drowning, please help.
anybody, anybody.
stocks cheap right now...
HELP........
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kpogoda 8:54AM (5/28/2008)
Funny how history repeats itself.
Once again, the big three are caught with large volumes of cars that do not meet the current demand.
Looks like the Chinese will have an easy time cleaning up in the ultra affordable, low-end, great gas mileage portion of the the market. The big three have not noticed that this portion of the market is completely open for the taking right now.
If you look at GM's stock price, it is very close to a 40 year low. This does not look very good for the US auto manufacturers. They better act quick to get small affordable cars getting 40mpg on the market or someone else will.....
geo.stewart 8:57AM (5/28/2008)
Nardelli also mentions that Chrysler sees hybrids and electric cars as the most viable options moving forward to reduce emissions and fuel consumption
master of the obvious, from a guy who has less time ( a year?) in the auto world than the technologies he is talking about. What else is being developed? oh yeah, lighter weight vehicles. any other new propulsion systems? no, so yeah hybrid and electric seems to be the best bets right now.
sheesh. how nardelli has a job just speaks to the ineptitude of the rest of the board.
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kpogoda 9:08AM (5/28/2008)
I was thinking the same thing. Why not just develop a new set of drivetrains to accomodate the market? Hybirds and electric vehicles are a dead-end market. Too much complexity and exposure due to battery replacement liabilities.
How about an Air Car? It is very popular and successful in Europe.
http://zeropollutionmotors.us/
Frank 9:04AM (5/28/2008)
Can't blame him, he has to overhaul brand offerings that are out of touch and sync w/ the common consumer. Someone else messed up horribly, so Chrysler has to crawl before it walks. You've got some of the the brightest minds in Crysler right now, I think they can actually do it. Cerebus would have eternal bragging rights, and if you know anything about the chief of Cerebus he WILL get it right.
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ronzo 11:17AM (5/28/2008)
This move screams of "we're clueless and have no idea how to dig ourselves out of this huge mess we've creatred!"
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Brent 5:05PM (5/29/2008)
I think it screams. "This is the best option for the short term because new cars take so damn long to develop."
RSR 12:37PM (5/28/2008)
Is Chrysler going to have their own models?
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