Daimler to give up Chrysler stake

[wemorgan]

BBC link

Sadly I can't really imagine Chrysler surviving for much longer, unless the Fiat merger goes ahead.

 

[Phil Thomas]

BBC link

Sadly I can't really imagine Chrysler surviving for much longer, unless the Fiat merger goes ahead.

I assume that the cars are not attractive enough to persuade people to buy them. I considered buying a Grand Voyager once, but didn't. Too many others must have made similar decisions to allow them to survive.

Is it really sad from the perspective of customers as opposed to employees? Will they simply drag FIAT down, as they nearly did to MB?

 

[wemorgan]

I wonder would the plan be to rebadge Fiat's and sell them as Chrysler's in the US?

 

[Phil Thomas]

I wonder would the plan be to rebadge Fiat's and sell them as Chrysler's in the US?

Well, I did have a FIAT once, in the '80's. It was the least reliable car I have ever had, and I said "never again". Some of the present FIAT cars look pretty good, and get good write ups, but second hand values are low. Whenever I am tempted I recall the one I owned. Then there was the Lancia business, where FIAT simply walked away, leaving owners with dangerous heaps of rust.

Would anyone buy a rebadged FIAT? People do obviously as FIAT seem to have made up some ground, but not I.

However people like myself die off, so perhaps your idea could work.

I wonder how long it takes to work off a bad reputation? I suppose we should ask Mercedes in a few years (I speak as a '99 W210 E class estate owner).

 

[renault12ts]

The worst car I ever had was an Alfa33, bought new in April 85 and scrapped because of rust 6 years later.

 

[miro]

BBC link

Sadly I can't really imagine Chrysler surviving for much longer, unless the Fiat merger goes ahead.

I dont know why Americans are so sentimental about their big companies. Look at how many non-American companies were destroyed by these corporations all in the name of progress.

 

[nick mercedes]

I wonder would the plan be to rebadge Fiat's and sell them as Chrysler's in the US?

Apparantly so, but they had no luck with MB's rebadged as chryslers/dodges so why Fiats will be any different?

That said GM use Fiat diesels, and the Grand Punto is the same car as a Corsa D....

 

[neilrr]

Selling Fiats in the USA is going to be a very, very tough job.

When I was there FIAT stood for Fix It Again Tony. They were regarded as junk, even when new. The 124 Spyder sold well, mainly on it's looks.

Long ago Fiat joined Austin, Rover, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Lancia & many other car companies which went to the USA, floundered & are forever tarred with the brush of dismal reputation.

 

[Dieselman]

Long ago Fiat joined Austin, Rover, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Lancia & many other car companies which went to the USA, floundered & are forever tarred with the brush of dismal reputation.

Other than 2CV/Ami cars Citroen were never officially imported into the USA due to bumper height restrictions, so no demise there..

The rest were predominantly Europe, Africa and Middle East sellers and due to be considered too small and expensive for US customers were never going to do well so the manufacturers took Commercial decisions to withdraw.

I think Chrysler wishes they could just withdraw from selling cars in the USA..

 

[Mr E]

I assume that the cars are not attractive enough to persuade people to buy them. I considered buying a Grand Voyager once, but didn't. Too many others must have made similar decisions to allow them to survive.

Is it really sad from the perspective of customers as opposed to employees? Will they simply drag FIAT down, as they nearly did to MB?

It'll be a different story as they should go forward with zero debt and a nice cheque from the US government.

Fiat boss reckons that in order to survive a mainstream OEM needs to sell 5.5 million cars a year, and without a major deal they'll go the same way too.