|
|
This article suggests that DCX CEO Juergen Schrempp said that a new platform was being jointly designed by Mitsubishi and Chrysler to replace the current Galant, Stratus, Neon, and Lancer - which kind of makes sense, since though the Neon and Stratus (and Galant and Lancer) are in different price classes, they are about the same size. It does harken back to the K-car days,though, when the same basic platform was used for economy, sport, and near-luxury (as in Reliant, Daytona, and Imperial). It also conflicts with prior statements that Chrysler was leading the redesign of the Galant and that the Lancer would spawn the replacement for the Neon (a plan notable for the fact that it puts each company in charge of the product line they sell the lesser of, and also for the fact that Mitsubishi platforms would prevail in both cases).
The article also noted that Chrysler still contributes over a third of DCX's revenue, though it, like most articles, used the "troubled Chrysler being turned around by powerful Daimler" tone that makes us shudder.
Sterling Marlin, Jimmy Spencer and Bill Elliott scored a Dodge top 10 trifecta in Monday's rain-delayed Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Elliott won the pole in Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T and finished ninth. He jumped three spots in the NASCAR Winston Cup Standings and ranks 10th after seven races.
Spencer and Marlin qualified with the same speed and finished eighth and seventh, respectively. Marlin retained the No. 1 spot in the Winston Cup Standings and now leads race winner Matt Kenseth by 70 points.
Marlin's Dodge Intrepid R/T had won its first two races this season - Las Vegas and Darlington. Spencer scored his second straight top 10 finish and third of the season.
Despite rules that some have criticized as favoring Ford, Dodge is close to Ford in points, with 45 to Ford's 49. Chevrolet and Pontiac are tied with 30 points each.
Chrysler will post a slight profit just in time for the annual shareholders' meeting, according to DCX. A nauseating article in Detroit News, loaded with references to "struggling Chrysler Group" and hinting at Daimler-Benz as being poor incompetent Chrysler's savior, quoted DCX officials as saying that Chrysler would indeed post a profit before taxes, interest, and other items.
We would remind visitors that it is impossible to see what is really going on behind the scenes, and that we have suspected funky bookkeeping practices and Mercedes-led redesigns are more responsible for Chrysler's "losses" than flaws in Chrysler itself - though we'd hardly applaud the former company's leadership, marketing, advertising, or product strategy under the later days of Robert Eaton, Mercedes or no Mercedes. If this is true, then all DCX would have to do to create a profit would be to hold off on extracting "consulting fees," royalties, etc. from Chrysler to Mercedes; indeed, any number of accounting tricks would work.
In any case, Schrempp seems to have realized that a Chrysler losing money will not endear anyone to his leadership, and that Mercedes can hardly be the white knight saving Chrysler if Chrysler is not at least marginally profitable.
Some of Chrysler's losses last year were also due to one-time charges from plant closures. This year, there will be one-time gains due to the sales of a wide variety of Chrysler plants and facilities, including the Austrian plant where minivans and Jeeps are made for European buyers.
The Dodge Road Scholar College Tour is an annual event where students at college campuses across the country can test drive Dodge vehicles in various contests and events, with the shot at winning prizes and entering drawings.
Students can test drive Dodge vehicles in on- and off-road courses, pitting themselves against their friends in numerous games and contests. Prizes range from a free 2-year lease from Dodge to NHL and NASCAR merchandise. Events in include rock climbing, test driving, video games, and golf cages. Included in these events are local campus awareness issues and discussions.
For the complete article and schedule of visits to the college near you, visit the Dodge website at http://www.dodge.com/universal/collegeTour/tour.html.
While DCX currently controls Mitsubishi, with a 37% stake and its own executives running the show, Juergen Schrempp said the conglomerate may take over Mitsubishi Motors entirely next year. This was an option when DCX purchased its third of the troubled corporation. DCX's influence has already been felt as Mitsubishi has cut carlines and factory capacity, been told to phase out its V6 engines in favor of Chrysler's, but also been given control of the next-generation small Dodge and had its mid-sized Galant shared with Dodge as the next-generation Stratus. Interestingly, DCX has slashed Chrysler's product development and is selling Chrysler factories under the rationale that DCX does not have enough money - apparently it does, because it takes money to buy nearly two thirds of a large auto corporation.
Showing some understanding of rather old automotive trends, Canada is reclassifying SUVs as cars, which will make them subject to more stringent pollution standards. Overall, Canada is lowering maximum limits for nitrogen oxides from 0.3 grams per mile to 0.07 grams per mile (note that this is not done in a pointless proportion or percentage, so that cars with higher fuel efficiency are rewarded instead of punished compared with trucks). Currently, SUVs only have to comply with truck standards of 1.53 grams per mile. The move will probably slow or stop the growth of SUV sales in Canada, while boosting car sales. The new regulation will come into effect in September 2003 for 2004 and later models.
Canada’s Largest All Mopar Event is looking for first time vehicles to attend as well as the participants that return every year. At the price of the Canadian dollar right now this would be a great way to enjoy the weekend as well as meet fellow Mopar lovers.
Moparfest is sponsored by the Old Chrysler Corporation Auto Club - (O.C.C. Inc.). Moparfest 2002 includes a pre-register door prize - 1971 Dodge Demon, as well as a crate engine and a transmission, and other smaller prizes.
Moparfest will be held August 17 and 18 2002 at the New Hamburg Fair Grounds, New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada.
Auto show news, with more detail and photos of the vehicles and engines, is now posted here.
Genciu wrote: "Compared to last March: Ford sales are down 12% and GM is down 1.7%. Though Chrysler was down 5%, there is much good news. Ram truck sales are up 8% to 35,457! Wait until the 2500/3500 are updated in the fall with the Hemi!
Sebring sedan is up 31%, convertible +40%; 300M + 14%; PT Cruiser + 11%; Neon + 11%; Intrepid + 34%! (14,372 vs. 11,083); Caravan +2%; and Liberty sold 12,594 (not sure, but maybe best month yet without rebates).
Stratus coupe is down 41% and Sebring coupe is down 38%. Looking at weekly production figures on those two vehicles, wonder how they can afford to keep building them. 11,020 Stratus sedans to 1,358 Stratus coupes sold last month. [Webmaster: note that these coupes are designed and made by Mitsubishi, based on the Eclipse.]
The change in the product mix, with more expensive vehicles (particularly the Ram) posting gains, may explain why DCX North American revenues are actually up for the quarter.
| To view older news, go to page: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62 - 63 - 64 - 65 - 66 - 67 - 68 - 69 - 70 - 71 - 72 - 73 - 74 - 75 - 76 - 77 - 78 - 79 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 83 - 84 - 85 - 86 - 87 - 88 - 89 - 90 - 91 - 92 - 93 - 94 - 95 - 96 - 97 - 98 - 99 - 100 - 101 - 102 - 103 - 104 - 105 - 106 - |
| =Please read the terms of use.Mopar, Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler are trademarks of DaimlerChrysler, AG. We are not affiliated with DaimlerChrysler. We are not responsible for the consequences of actions taken based on this site and make no guarantees regarding validity or applicability. Copyright (c) 1999-2000, David Zatz; copyright © 2001-2002 Allpar,LLC. All rights reserved. Owned by Allpar LLC. Recommend this page! |
