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Abandon The Ship! - Chrysler

Article Summary: All hands on deck, never abandon the ship! But Chrysler might not hold onto that maxim for long. The query is: What models shall abandon the automaker’s ship?

Sometimes it takes remarkable sacrifice to keep the ship sailing on high seas. There are also times when some cargoes have to abandon the ship to salvage lives. But to abandon the ship is quite a hard decision on the part of the captain. This is also the case with Chrysler LLC.

After the divorce with Germany’s Daimler AG, Chrysler is on the brink of either sinking or floating. And the make or break consequence is burdened on the shoulders of the automaker’s top officials. Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda and Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press are on the hot seat. Are they capable of making Chrysler ship afloat on the high seas called automotive industry?

Chrysler products are now placed under close scrutiny. Which of the products will stay aboard; which will abandon the ship?

Recently, Detroit Free Press conducted a ‘captain game’ with simple rules: “Take Chrysler’s current model line, eliminate uncompetitive vehicles and those that are too much like each other. Then add new cars and trucks to make the automaker profitable when the process is done in three or four years. The object is to end up with 18 vehicle lines, the target Chrysler is working toward.”

Several auto experts were made jurors for a day. Their suggestions make sense. "The 300 redefined Chrysler," said analyst Stephanie Brinley of consultants AutoPacific. "They absolutely must keep that image. The Charger and 300 don't appeal to the same people, so duplication between them is not a problem."

"I never understood why they didn't take the magic of the 300 down a size and make a killer midsize car," said Michelle Krebs, editor of AutoObserver.com. The Auburn Hills automaker should get a dynamic sedan and a chic convertible; Dodge could offer a sporty coupe to compete closely in the industry.

According to the experts, the Dodge Magnum sporty wagon barely sells so it must be dropped. Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans are not that competitive so they must go too. How about the Crossfire? Drop it. What’s more, the old PT Cruiser is destined to abandon the ship. Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango sport utilities are said to be placed in the wrong place at the wrong time. Why keep them? Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans are expensive to produce. Experts suggest the automaker should keep one and drop the other.

Dodge Dakota, on the other hand, belongs to a dying midsize pickup breed, remove it. "It's a glaring void in their lineup," Krebs noted. "The whole world is going that way. The Dodge Hornet was a really interesting concept car. They might make it look like that."

Quite obviously, duplicity is Chrysler’s glaring blunder. Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander is competing each other. A little tweaking of the Jeep Grand Cherokee parts could pave the way for a dominant player in the segment.

“It goes, but the platform for the next generation of the Grand Cherokee should be flexible enough to give Dodge a seven- or eight-seat crossover, and maybe an SUV that offers serious towing capability without Jeep's bias toward off-road ability,” said Jim Hall, managing director of 2953 Analytics, a Birmingham consultant. "That's a product they need."

Duplicity is a serious offense in the industry. And if not cured, duplicity could push Chrysler down the drain. The remedy is to get rid of it without making the absence felt.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Anthony Fontanelle
For more information about your parts needs like Jeep Grand Cherokee parts visit your trusted online source. Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.