Fiat Chrysler Drops 200 And Dart To Make Room For More Jeeps And Pickups

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne on Wednesday said the automaker would rely more heavily on profitable Jeeps and Rams in North America and Europe to help its business remain profitable in other sagging areas and regions.

“We are not of the view that this industry is facing an impending demise,” Marchionne said before announcing FCA’s adjusted earnings of $1.78 billion in the fourth quarter.

Marchionne and CFO Richard Palmer said Jeep’s success in North America and Europe led the company last year and would be the “bedrock” for the automaker’s future. The automaker laid out specific plans to bring forward a Jeep pickup and Wagoneer, and let wither less-profitable models such as the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart.

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MDarringer - 1/28/2016 10:25:07 PM

+1 Boost

The CamCord wars are brutal and when your all-new car is a Dart inflated to its maximum you'll lose in the end. The 200 is pretty good for a car that was designed on a shoestring that was inflated from a Dart that itself was inflated from a Giulietta.

FCA has Jeep and Ram that are solid. The rest of their brands are all precarious in some way.

TomM - 1/29/2016 5:05:45 PM

+2 Boost

Of course - you know what is going to happen. IT will take FCA years to come out with new Rams and Jeeps - the current ones will eventually ebb - and gas prices will likely have another run-up in a few years. FCA will be without any smaller fuel efficient cars - BUT - the question remains - they STILL must meet the upcoming USA fuel standards - and without small high mileage cars to offset the big Suvs - they will either have to buy credits or go out of business due to penalties.

mini22 - 1/31/2016 9:01:58 PM

+1 Boost

Marchionne did mention a move to hybrid by 2020. That would then mean hybrid trucks and SUV/CUVs. That maybe the strategy to make the 2025 fuel economy standards without the small high mileage cars. I also think they will need to go full EV on some models. Clearly FCA strategy to make competitive small and midsize cars backfired. The Dart has struggled because they did not have the right engine for a somewhat heavy vehicle. The 200 is not doing well because they did not pay attention to the fact that Americans like rear leg and headroom. I'm sure Marchionne thought he could get away with this but he clearly miscalculated. His excuse that low gas prices has been the prime culprit is hiding the fact that these cars are barely class competitive compared to Accord, Camry, Mazda 3, Focus, Civic etc.