Following an earlier report that Cerberus Capital Management was preparing to sell Chrysler, new details have emerged that shed some light in Renault’s part in the possible acquisition. Renault is already tied to Chrysler though a deal with Nissan, but the breakup of Chrysler could result in Renault having an even closer with the Michigan automaker.
If Cerberus were to breakup Chrysler, General Motors has already laid claim to the company’s minivan and Mexico truck operations, leaving plenty of other assets to scour through. According to Reuters, Renault would be interested in re-acquiring Chrysler Jeep brand. Renault was a major investor in AMC, which sold Jeep to Chrysler in 1987.
If Renault were to buy Chrysler’s Jeep unit, it would instantly give the French automaker a wealth of SUV platforms, as well as access to underutilized North American production plants. The acquisition of Jeep would also give Renault a solid launching pad for a reintroduction to the U.S. market, a move a Renault executive said was a possibility at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.
Given Jeep’s iconic place in the market, the acquisition of the off-road brand would seem like a smart move for Renault – even if SUV sales are down. And with only three of Chrysler’s many units accounted for, we’re sure we haven’t heard the last on the breakup of Chrysler.
10/17, 10:41 AM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
hahaha… UAW working together with the french mega-protectionistic and communist unions? good luck!
10/17, 11:33 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
French Jeeps? What is this world coming to?
10/17, 11:33 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Presenter le nouveau Jeep Pooftier? Qu’est-ce que Quiche-Rated?
10/17, 11:46 AM
posted by:
kitko
AnonymousCoward, it was the US government that bailed out US car manufacturers, not the French government. It’s Renault that’s looking to buy Chrysler, not vice versa. It’s UAW that changed the Big Three into pension funds with car making and as side business.
Last but not least, despite all strikes and 30-hour work week, French labour productivity is pretty much the same as American. Go figure.
http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=LEVEL
10/17, 1:11 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
“Pooftier”? LMAO. That’s the best name for the Lexus and BMW SUVs that the “high class” soccer milfs buy to show off.
10/17, 2:37 PM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
kitko,
“Last but not least, despite all strikes and 30-hour work week, French labour productivity is pretty much the same as American.”
that is exectly what i’m talking about..
10/17, 4:49 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
In other words, no one will do a damn thing…
…still?
10/17, 5:00 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
YEAH
Bring Renault back! Sounds good to me.
I think Volkswagen should bring SEAT into the US market.
Back on topic..Thats good for Renault to get back Jeep, it would give them an extra lead in the market..
10/17, 5:50 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Riiiiight…so we can all travel in Jeep “Cowardez” and “Surrendiers”.
Stay the f*ck away from Chrysler before you wreck them as you’ve done with your own sh!tty cars, Renault.
10/17, 8:07 PM
posted by:
olds307
XJ Cherokee was a Renault-AMC collaberation.
10/17, 8:22 PM
posted by:
Raven37
PLEASE CYBERIUS DONT SELL CRYSLER, IM BEGGING YOU!!!!!!!
10/18, 12:29 PM
posted by:
inline6
ols307 couldn’t be wider of the mark. The XJ Cherokee was totally and completely an AMC creation. Styled by Richard Teague and engineered completely at Plymouth Road in Detroit, the only effect Renault had on the XJ was providing the financing for it by buying 46% of the company a year before it went on sale, and offering their 2.1L diesel under the hoods of about 5 of them in 1986-87.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Jeep go to Renault. And I wouldn’t mind seeing Renaults back in this country. But riding into this whole equation is how Jeep would compete with NISSAN…you know…the other half of the company? And I also wonder how Renault could come back to the US market fielding products that compete with Nissan.
I think Fiat should buy Jeep, while GM buys the rest of ‘em, sh*tcans everything but their minivans, brings in some of the former Toyota people Chrysler’s picked up, and gets the capacity out of this market so that it has one fewer competitor.
10/18, 12:32 PM
posted by:
inline6
Oh yeah, and GM should sell a few of Chrysler’s American plants to the European automakers that want to come over here so badly…PSA, Fiat AG, Volkswagen, etc. would be happy to pick up a few of Chrysler’s plants for pennies on the dollar. If the companies can negotiate the package well, maybe that’s how GM would get away from the backlash of putting all of Chrysler’s lineworkers out on their ears.
10/18, 1:24 PM
posted by:
olds307
“Designs of the XJ Cherokee date back to 1978 when a team of AMC and Renault engineers drew several sketches. ….. Early sketches of the XJ Cherokee had an European influence, and most of the styling cues were done by AMC engineers. The ongoing debate suggests that Renault sketch artists were involved right after the 1979 partnership with AMC.”
10/19, 5:33 PM
posted by:
inline6
Wow…citing un-cited wikipedia quotes to make your case is, uh, rather thin.
I’ve been an AMC history buff for well over a decade, and I’ve never read anywhere of any indication that any Renault engineering or design input was given to the XJ Cherokee, except what I stated above.
AMC and Renault didn’t pair up until 1979, and Renault had only a 5% stake in the company at the time. It grew to 22% in 1980 and 46% in 1982. I’d need a little more than an undocumented wikipedia quote that says “citation needed” to believe this.
10/20, 7:11 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
As a former die-hard Jeep fanatic, I have a few choice words for Jeep:
“Go F–K yourself.”
After suffering through 10 years of subpar build quality, miserable mileage, crappy service, overpriced repairs, and low-quality stock components that break BEFORE you start going offroad, I will never touch a Jeep again. Renault can molest them harder than the Priests at St. Vincent, I wish them well.