Chrysler's 5-Year Business Plan: The Product Breakdown
by John Neff on Nov 4th 2009 at 11:00PM 
Chrysler LLC has concluded its 7-hour-long marathon presentation of the business plan (read our Live Blog of the event here) that will see it through the next five years, and what we're left with is a little confusing. It's almost as if the automaker's new executives, amidst apologizing for the company's past and promising to do better in the future, were hoping we'd all fall asleep or get lost in the details. Well, we didn't fall asleep or get lost, and below you'll find a breakdown of what we learned while spending the day hip deep in Chrysler's future product. You can also check out the slides from Chrysler's presentation relating to product in the gallery below.
Models On Their Way Out
- Jeep Patriot (end of 2012)
- Jeep Compass (end of 2012)
- Jeep Commander (end of 2010, may continue being sold internationally)
- Chrysler PT Cruiser (end of 2010)
- Dodge Dakota (mid 2011)
- Dodge Caliber (mid 2012)
- Dodge Viper (mid 2011, may return in 2012)
New Models That Are Coming
- Jeep compact SUV (2013, supplied by Fiat, may be Panda)
- Jeep small CUV (2013, supplied by Fiat, replaces Patriot and Compass)
- Jeep Liberty (2013, replaced by Fiat product but retains name)
- Chrysler small car (2013, supplied by Fiat)
- Chrysler compact sedan (2012, supplied by Fiat, replaces PT Cruiser)
- Chrysler Sebring (2013, replaced by Fiat product but retains name)
- Chrysler midsize CUV (2013, supplied by Fiat)
- Ram midsize unibody pickup (under consideration for 2011)
- Ram large and small commercial van (2012, supplied by Fiat)
- Dodge small car (2013, supplied by Fiat)
- Dodge compact sedan (2012, supplied by Fiat)
- Dodge Avenger (major update 2010, replaced by Fiat product 2013)
- Dodge full-size CUV (2010)
- Fiat 500 (late 2010, convertible 2011, Abarth 2012)
Models Staying, Receiving Attention
- Jeep Wrangler Diesel (2010/2011, not confirmed for U.S. market... yet)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (all-new 2010)
- Chrysler 300C (all-new 2010)
- Chrysler Town & Country (major update 2010, next-gen 2014)
- Ram 1500/2500/3500 (major update 2012)
- Dodge Journey (major update 2010)
- Dodge Nitro (major update 2011 under consideration)
- Dodge Challenger (refresh 2011)
- Dodge Charger (all-new 2010)
- Dodge Grand Caravan (major update 2010, next-gen 2014)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
ThatsAgood1jay 11:04PM (11/04/2009)
As long as some of those Fiat Products are a few rebadged Alfa's, i'm perfectly fine with this product plan.
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TyWright 1:01AM (11/05/2009)
They are bone heads if they rebadge Fiats as Chryslers.
TIME. TO. THINK. DIFFERENT. DETROIT!!!
Frank 9:24AM (11/05/2009)
I don't think these are going to be re-badges. I think they are going to do platform sharing. That's a lot different than just slapping a badge on.
Alex 9:41AM (11/05/2009)
Disagree. I want an Alfa Romeo MiTo. Not a rebadge and not a platform sibling.
Not THAT Matt 10:45AM (11/05/2009)
The primary reason re-badging fails is when the company being rebadged already has a presence in the target market.
Fiat does not.
As far as Americans (and even us Autobloggers) are concerned, Fiats rebadged as Chrylers are 100% all-new product.
OC_cars 11:06PM (11/04/2009)
5 years to turn that ship around? By the Italians? After getting beat up for how long by the Germans? In this economy?
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Xenon 2:11AM (11/05/2009)
You mean the same germans that couldn't turn chrysler around? Oh, and just in case you didn't get the memo - those german cars - ya, they ain't exactly selling well.
Parkerman 6:32AM (11/05/2009)
Xenon, they did turn Chrysler around.... They turned them straight towards the ground.
G.G. 8:29AM (11/05/2009)
Easy. At the end of the 5 year Business Plan FIAT will just ditch Chrysler and will have succesfully completed their return to the American market. Dodge and Chrysler will become soon-to-be forgotten names in another page in American history, it is as simple as that, a Mafia takeover of the #3 Spot in the US Auto Business.
INTERNET SUPERHERO 11:40AM (11/05/2009)
You can talk all the crap about Chrysler but don't throw Dodge under the bus with it. I don't ever want to see them go.
Brett MacPherson 11:09PM (11/04/2009)
I have no intentions of ever buying an Abarth.. but damn they're cool.
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paul.ml.n.ho 11:14PM (11/04/2009)
So nothing original stays save for the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Charger/300, Caravan/Town & Country? I hope the new Fiats get some of the Chrysler interior niceties still, like the Stow N' Go seats and MyGig. And what happens to SRT?
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montoym 1:30PM (11/05/2009)
Pretty much, I noticed that as well.
Makes sense though, they are keeping the products that Chrysler does well with and replacing the rest with Fiats. Few will argue that the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, 300/Charger, Ram P/U, and minivans are their strongest products. Honestly though, outside of those, they don't have much to brag about.
Willie 11:20PM (11/04/2009)
I have much faith in the new direction Chrysler is going in. Honestly, what has been Chrysler problem is not having the right leadership in the driver seat. I happy to see they are admitting their cars have poor reliability and poor quality and will tackle these problems. Chrysler has great designs except for when you get inside the car and are bombarded with hard cheap plastics, and you have to make several trips to the dealer for issues. Now that Ford is on par with the japanese brands and GM making big strides, Chrysler is the lone car company with very low marks. Chrysler will make a turnaround, remember a few years ago when people said Ford would go under (people made comments like R.I.P)...well look at Ford today. One of the strongest car companies, the strongest of the domestics.
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Chazz 12:19AM (11/05/2009)
Just what I like to read, someone being optimistic. I'm pleased and excited about what the future brings. This company has a great deal of potential.
JB32 12:48AM (11/05/2009)
Willie/Chazzz
In total agreement. A thorough, detailed yet straight forward plan is exactly what Chrysler needs. Sharing with Fiat is what was asked for, and that's going to happen. EXCELLENT. Someone following through on a promise, finally.
I called for this merger before Ceberus bought them out and it makes total sense unlike Diamler. Two companies with little geographical overlap and complimentary product/lines makes sense. Keeping Chrysler as an alliance member yet legally separate ensures that Chrysler like Nissan will have some creative independence too.
With a MUCH reduced cost structure, product tweaks and some renewed vigor Chrysler will make it through these next year or two and then hit the ground running.
Rome wasn't built in a day!... (couldn't resist)
With Toyota getting bad press on ABC over the acceleration issues, Honda doing a 180 on the new Civic late in the game, Acura looking like Aztekica and Nissan being stale they may have a little extra help.
Its a good week with GM sticking it to Angela and Germany after being screwed by them, is icing on the cake.
Go Big 3 !!!!
Jared 8:57AM (11/05/2009)
I wish Chrysler well. But, frankly, I don't share your optimism. Fiat is not at the top of the heap when it comes to quality. While it is certainly far above where it was back when Fiats were imported to the US, it is not up to par with its European competitors, let alone the Japanese.
Chrysler won't have much new product until 2012/2013. Both the Grand Cherokee and 300/Charger will sell in relatively low volumes. They don't have much cash. They have had a huge brain drain in Detroit and don't have much talent left to design and engineer new vehicles. The alternative -- having suppliers do much of the engineering -- is difficult for Chrysler as they have had the worst supplier relationships of all manufacturers in the US.
Chrysler dealers are sucking wind. Their stores are tired and they won't have much product to sell for the next couple years. Many more will go under before 2012. The ones that are left don't exactly trust Chrysler, after having been stuffed with inventory at the start of 2009, just before the bankruptcy filing.
I do hope Chrysler thrives and survives, but I'm very skeptical. I don't think they have the time that they need.
Chazz 10:11AM (11/05/2009)
This is the first company in a string of "abusive" relationships that has taken a great deal of interest in restoring the luster to what seemed like a defeated company - great news for enthusiast who want to see this company succeed, employees who work and rely on the paycheck and the American buying public who like and are wanting to purchase the products this company has to offer.
To all the naysayers who think that it's just rebadging, GET LOST!!! Rebadging will serve as a TEMPORARY means of fast tracking products to the Consumer - Products that by the way ARE NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED HERE. If such as Toyota which is offering a gussied up Corolla as a Lexus why couldn't Chrysler/Fiat place an American spin on an Italian product? Just what I thought... It's ok for the Japanese but a total faux pas for the this company - yeah right!
recharged95 11:21PM (11/04/2009)
how line up batman.
That's too many models for Dodge/Chrys/Jeep. I mean 10 models for Dodge only?
It's too conservative. They need to cut line up asap.
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TonyInMI 11:26PM (11/04/2009)
Patriot and Compass should NEVER have been built in the first place. Duh.
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