An iDodge in your future?

Ralph Gilles, CEO for the Dodge brand and Chrysler Groups’s chief stylist, wants the automaker to revitalize its creativity by taking a few pages from the Apple Computer playbook.
Gilles, who was filling in for Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne at the Economic Club of Chicago’s annual auto show luncheon, identified Steve Jobs, iconic Apple CEO, as [...]

Gilles: Viper may return, Fiat 500 in 2010

Ralph Gilles spoke today at the Chicago Auto Show. Correspondent Jim Choate was present for Allpar. Gilles replaced Sergio Marchionne at the last moment, when Marchionne had to fly to Russia. Speaking of Marchionne, Gilles said, “I’ve never felt better about where Chrysler is.”

In addition to showing brief teaser images of upcoming work (Grand Cherokee, [...]

Chrysler’s plan for Q1-Q2 sales

Starting with the Grand Cherokee in mid-2010, Chrysler will have a product onslaught unseen since the early 1980s, with at least half the vehicles substantially changed. Plans are to have new versions of the Sebring/Avenger, minivans, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Charger, and 300C by January 2011, with likely changes to the Journey as well.
In the meantime, [...]

Blade on Chrysler execs: Jeep, Dodge, manufacturing

The Toledo Blade’s Larry P. Vellequette interviewed Sergio Marchionne at the North American Auto Show. The CEO of Fiat and Chrysler said that he would not produce cars that aren’t being ordered, as Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, and Cerberus reportedly did, saying, “If I need to shut the plants, I will. Marchionne also said the [...]

Chrysler hangs out the “Help Wanted” sign

Former Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli slashed engineering jobs, essentially gutting the staff to the point there could be no new product development. Now new CEO Sergio Marchionne has Chrysler’s HR department working feverishly to rebuild the ruins left by Cerberus.
According to a report in Automotive News, Chrysler has already hired 600 engineers and is looking [...]

Dodge to fix trim levels

The five year plan calls for a complete repackaging of all Dodge cars, with new options mixes, by the end of the fourth quarter of 2009. A complete overhaul of branding, marketing, positioning, and point of sale is to be completed by the end second quarter of 2010.
The car and truck brands are being separated [...]