Department of Redundancy Department: Chrysler to consolidate redundant models
03/24/2008, 11:32 AM
By Drew Johnson
With Chrysler moving to bring all three of its brands — Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep — under one roof at most dealerships, it just doesn’t make sense to have several variations of what is essentially the same vehicle. The Michigan-based automaker has realized this fact and Chrysler President Jim Press confirmed earlier this week that Chrysler will be consolidating a number of vehicles.
“We’re going to stop overlapping, we’re going to bring everything under one roof. By doing that we will have more products in the markets we are not covering,” Press said.
In order to stop overlapping, Chrysler will drastically alter its lineup over the next five years, with no vehicles getting a free pass. Press specifically addressed the company’s redundant minivan offerings — meaning the Dodge Caravan or Chrysler Town & Country is likely on the chopping block — but also said that Chrysler will reduce its SUV offering by nearly half.
Late last year Chrysler confirmed that it would be discontinuing five of its current models.
According to Bloomberg, Chrysler will reduce its model offerings from 28 to 19 in the coming years as it realigns its dealer network.
03/24, 11:34 AM
posted by:
jjayc08
Chrysler’s whole range is redundant.
03/24, 11:42 AM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
Ford and Honda and VW, are you paying attention?
03/24, 11:56 AM
posted by:
snork
Ricardo, I can see Ford and GM needing to pay attention…but what does Honda & VW have overlapping? The only products I can really think of are Accord/TSX and Passat/A4. That’s hardly a glut of overlap…they do have a decent amount of differentiation.
03/24, 12:02 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
re-DUHHHHHHHHHHH-dant
03/24, 12:18 PM
posted by:
TomF
Man, the clarity you suddenly acquire when you’re at death’s door. Another smart move by Chrysler. Look at the mess of junky, unwanted SUVs they spew into the market to compete against each other. Too bad it will take them from five to seven years to develop a comprehensive, competitive, non-redundant product lineup. I predict that before the cure can kick in, the patient will expire.
03/24, 12:38 PM
posted by:
lucklaster
With Jim Press – at least they are making decisions instead of hiding – that’s the first step.
03/24, 1:39 PM
posted by:
JetmanOTC
this story is redundan, its like the 3 one.
03/24, 1:49 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
Kill The Compass!!! There. That’s all I needed to say.
03/24, 1:51 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I think the patient will live. The new Ram and the Challenger will fan the flames enough to get people into the showrooms in the short term.
03/24, 2:04 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Is Jim Press the new Iaccoca?
03/24, 3:22 PM
posted by:
Stealth E34
Compass.
Durango and Aspen (highly uncompetitive full-size SUV’s, in a dying market)
Nitro (and Liberty maybe? – definitely the Nitro at least)
(current) Dakota (perhaps replaced by a smaller version)
Town and Country (just make the Caravan R/T the upmarket version, with a more potent engine)
PT Cruiser (unless they are re-engineering it to be more efficient and competitive)
Avenger/Sebring (what’s the point of both?) I say, axe the Sebring and make a wicked-cool Avenger coupe, sedan and convertible with a nice 300hp turbo-I4
Charger (??) If they’re talking redundancy, where exactly does the Charger/300 fit?
While they’re at it, Chrysler needs to completely rework their engines. The new Journey gets 15mpg city and 22mpg highway. How ON EARTH will this thing compete?
As a side note, my mom’s 2006 PT Cruiser gets 17mpg… out of a 2.4L 4-cylinder!
BRUTAL!
Good luck Chrysler…
03/24, 4:57 PM
posted by:
Stinky007
Most important: killing redundant models is good!
If you guys think VW doesn’t have any overlaps, you should come to Europe and try to buy a car:
Example, want a hatchback? You can get VW Golf, Seat Leon, Audi A3, maybe even a Skoda Octavia 2 if you want a pseudo-sedan! 3 out of these four are in the same price-range and, the Audi being the same crap, but more expensive, at it has more “rings” than the other 3. All of them use the same technical base and engines! This is overlap!
Anyway, Chrysler is in deep “jam” and took the right decision by axing some (I really mean some) of their worthless vehicles.
03/24, 5:17 PM
posted by:
jjayc08
Stinky007 you stink!
03/24, 11:18 PM
posted by:
SanFord
Even if they ax every redundant model, what’s left is still out of date and poorly made crap…
Besta luck to yah ChryCo… (your really gonna need it..)
03/25, 10:15 AM
posted by:
stick2clutch
They can start by killing that thing in the picture.
03/25, 10:35 PM
posted by:
kool_aje
Good news! Dodge for sportcars competing Porsche, AstonMartin, Jaguar. Jeep is in the right track right now..but nobody will miss Compass if it’s gone. Chrysler will be the rest of the line up.
03/27, 7:13 PM
posted by:
bigp
well do what ever you need to live