Chrysler to stop making Dodge Grand Caravan

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Bill Pugliano / Getty Images file

Chrysler plans to stop production of the Dodge Grand Caravan, according to Automotive News.

The automaker will no longer make the minivan for the 2013 model year. It also plans to do away with the Dodge Avenger, the report said.

Chrysler only plans to offer one minivan in the future — the Chrysler Town & Country. The plan is designed “to end duplication in dealer showrooms and give each of its brands a strong and distinctive lineup,” according to the report.

Chrysler plans to debut a new crossover vehicle in 2013 that will replace both the Caravan and the Avenger, Chrysler’s CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News.

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Marchionne Concedes Need For Chrysler Hybrids

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By Danny King October 24, 2011

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne hasn’t been a big fan of hybrid technology but is conceding that Chrysler will need to make hybrid vehicles in order to meet increasingly stringent U.S. fuel-economy standards. Although long wary of the higher production costs and relatively low sales volume of hybrids, Marchionne said in an interview with industry trade journal Automotive News that Chrysler will need to include more gas-electric vehicles and a progressively larger mix of diesel-powered cars and light trucks in its lineup order to reach the 54.5 mpg fuel efficiency standards expected to set for 2025. The new standards would require Chrysler to more than double its 2010 fleet fuel economy average.

Chrysler, whose 2007 bankruptcy prevented the type of vehicle-electrification investments made by U.S.-based competitors Ford and General Motors, is playing catch up with the other automakers. Chrysler achieved a fleetwide fuel economy average last year of 19.2 miles per gallon, dead last among the 14 major automakers making vehicles for the U.S. market, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Meanwhile, in late July, the U.S. government reached a deal with automakers to establish a 54.5 mile-per-gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard for passenger vehicles in 2025. That would be equal to an EPA "window sticker" fuel economy rating of about 40 mpg. The standards still must be published for public comment and final approval won’t come until next year, but there’s little doubt about the direction in which federal fuel economy regulation is headed.

Chrysler, which plans to start selling a hybrid version of the Chrysler 300 (above) in 2013, will introduce a diesel version of its Jeep Grand Cherokee that same year and will likely expand diesel powertrain availability to most of its larger vehicles thereafter. Additionally, Chrysler has begun testing a battery-electric version of the Fiat 500. Chrysler is building the car for Fiat. It is slated to hit the market in 2012 as a 2013 model.

Danny King:  is a frequent contributor to AutoObserver.com.

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Chrysler, autos union agree on labor contract

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Carlos Osorio / AP

Cars are seen on a Chrysler assembly line in Sterling Heights, Mich.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union and Chrysler have reached a tentative four-year labor contract deal, the automaker said on Wednesday.

The deal follows agreements between the UAW and Chrysler's Detroit rivals General Motors and Ford. The UAW deal is Chrysler’s first since its bankruptcy and government bailout in 2009. It covers its 26,000 hourly production workers.

The agreement is subject to UAW member ratification. The GM contract was ratified by its workers late last month and Ford workers are in the process of voting that ends Oct. 18.

UAW President Bob King said in a press statement that the Chrysler pact will create 2,100 U.S. jobs and will include $4.5 billion in investments to produce new models and upgraded vehicles and components by 2015.

“Less than three years ago, Chrysler was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy as our nation was thrown into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” King said. “This tentative agreement builds on the momentum of job creation and our efforts to rebuild America by adding 2,100 new jobs by the end of the agreement in 2015 to communities left in turmoil in the wake of the country’s economic collapse.”

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Chrysler Testing Electric Version Of Fiat 500

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By John O'Dell October 20, 2011

Chrysler has begun testing of the upcoming Fiat 500 EV, as these spy photos attest. The battery-electric car, slated to hit the market in 2012 as a 2013 model, is being built by the Chrysler Group LLC for parent company Fiat S.p.A. The spy shots clearly show a U.S.-specification, 240-volt charger plug receptacle behind the electric Fiat’s fuel-filler door (below). The covers on the front and rear fascia suggest that the battery-electric version of the Fiat 500 will feature some changes Fiat doesn’t want to show off just yet to visually differentiate it from the gasoline model. Chrysler hasn’t said where it will build the Fiat 500 EV, but it currently assembles gasoline models of the subcompact for the U.S. market at its plant in Toluca, Mexico.

The carmakers haven’t released much information about the Fiat 500 electric vehicle, but in an interview earlier this year, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne suggested that it might be priced as much as three times the base gasoline 500 model. Even at a $45,000 sticker price, Fiat would likely lose about $10,000 per car. At the 2010 Detroit auto show, when production of the EV was announced, Marchionne tossed out a lower potential price tag of $32,000. Either price would be a bargain compared to the $144,000 that apparently ousted Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi paid an Italian automotive customizer for a one-of-a-kind 2009 Fiat 500 EV convertible recently seized by rebel fighters in Libya’s civil war.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.

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Approval Of Ford, Chrysler Labor Agreements No Slam-Dunk

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By AutoObserver Staff October 14, 2011

After quick ratification by union workers at General Motors Co., new tentative 4-year labor contracts between the United Auto Workers union and Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group LLC could be on shaky ground as sketchy reports indicate approval of the tentative agreements from the UAW rank-and-file membership is far from certain. Many labor analysts expected Ford and Chrysler UAW members to accept the terms of the contract that would take the automakers and union through 2015, but as of midday Friday, with about 30 percent of votes cast at Ford, just 51 percent of workers had accepted terms of the tentative deal. The surprising narrow approval in the early voting from Ford UAW workers is increasing speculation Chrysler workers also may push back against their tentative contract.

Reuters news service reported on Friday that with about 27 percent of Ford workers casting votes on the tentative agreement, a slight majority of 53 percent voted to reject the offer. Particularly troubling for Ford was a 2-to-1 rejection of the tentative contract from one of Ford’s largest UAW assembly plants in Chicago, IL, that is promised new work under terms of the labor agreement. In total, Ford has 40,600 workers represented by the UAW, Reuters reported. Ford’s tentative contract with the UAW provides for higher signing bonuses than awarded to GM workers and Ford also committed to $16 billion in manufacturing investments and to save or add 12,000 jobs in the U.S. during the course of the 4-year contract.

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Chrysler, Auto Union agree on contract

Carlos Osorio / AP

Cars are seen on an assembly line of Chrysler in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

The Union United Auto workers (UAW) and Chrysler have a preliminary four-year work contract offer, reached the automaker said on Wednesday.

The deal follows agreements between the UAW and Chrysler Detroit rivals General Motors and Ford. The UAW deal is Chrysler bailout for the first time since its bankruptcy and Government in 2009. It includes 26,000 production workers.

The agreement is subject to UAW member ratification. The GM Treaty was ratified at the end of its workers last month and workers are in the process of which vote Ford, ends Oct. 18.

UAW President Bob King said in a press statement, that the Chrysler Pact created 2,100 jobs in the United States and also will be $4.5 billion in investments to upgraded vehicles with new models and components by 2015.

"Less than three years, Chrysler was moving on the verge of bankruptcy as our nation in the worst economic crisis since the great depression, was thrown", King said. "This provisional agreement builds on the dynamics of job creation and our efforts rebuild America by adding communities, the economic turmoil in the wake of the country left at the end of the agreement in the year 2015 reduce 2,100 new jobs."

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Chrysler stop Dodge Grand Caravan

Bill Pugliano / Getty Images-file

Chrysler plans production of Dodge Grand Caravan, according to automotive news.

The automakers do not more the minivan for the year 2013. It also plans to abolish the Dodge Avenger, the report said.

Chrysler wants to offer only a minivan in the future - Chrysler Town & country. The plan is to "reproduction dealer of showrooms to stop and give each of its brands a strong and distinctive lineup," according to the report.

Chrysler plans, a new crossover vehicle in 2013 said debut, which will replace the Caravan and the Avenger, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne Automotive News.

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Chrysler And UAW Reach Tentative 4-Year Contract

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By Bill Visnic October 12, 2011

Chrysler Group LLC announced today that the company reached a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers union on a new 4-year labor agreement. Chrysler is the last of the Detroit Three automakers to reach a tentative pact with the UAW; General Motors Co.’s contract has been ratified, while Ford’s tentative agreement is currently with its rank-and-file workers for ratification, with the final results of the nationwide voting expected today. Chrysler did not disclose terms of the tentative new 4-year contract, which requires ratification by its 26,000 hourly employees.

But UAW president Bob King did release a statement that gave broad indications about the scope of the contract. “This tentative agreement builds on the momentum of job creation and our efforts to rebuild America by adding 2,100 new jobs by the end of the agreement in 2015,” King said. The union added that Chrysler plans to invest $4.5 billion in the U.S. to manufacture new and refreshed models and new major components produced in UAW plants.

Chrysler’s agreement with the UAW likely is comprised of many of the same basic aspects as the contracts reached with GM and Ford. The primary features of those contracts included large signing bonuses for all workers – $5,000 per worker in the case of the ratified GM contract – increased wages for so-called “tier two” newly-hired workers and some type of profit-sharing program that increases payouts to UAW workers based on metrics of the company’s success.

There was tension in the process, however, including a highly-publicized letter from Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne that in a prickly tone accused the UAW’s King of delaying the contract negotiations to concentrate on the UAW’s talks with Ford. Marchionne also publicly said that Chrysler could not afford to the same concessions won from GM and Ford, particularly the increase in hourly wages for the second-tier workers. Reports then indicated the UAW believed it was close to an agreement with Chrysler this weekend, but the agreement did not come. It wasn’t until Wednesday morning that Chrysler announced the parties had reached the tentative agreement that now will go before workers for a vote. Chrysler and the UAW had extended the current contract until October 19.

Bill Visnic:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter

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UAW Chief hopes for Chrysler handle and Wednesday: source code

DETROIT (Reuters) - United Auto workers President Bob King Chrysler plant Union leaders on Monday said that he hoped for an agreement on a new four-year contract Wednesday, a source said familiar with his comments.

King and General Holiefield, in the Chrysler negotiations lead UAW negotiators union plant guides that they had originally hoped, a provisional deal on Monday morning, said, the source said.

Despite intensive negotiations over the weekend the two sides unable to agree, and who would say that he with them again Wednesday morning meet Union leaders if he hoped a preliminary Pact have, according to the source.

Due to a Chrysler 2009 bankruptcy and a Federal Government bailout may not the Union through contractual clauses strike. Is a dead end, the two sides would go to binding arbitration, a process that could take the months.

King, who said just last week that he wanted to avoid arbitration, mentioned it said not the source in the session Monday.

A Chrysler spokeswoman would not say whether team expected the automaker of the negotiations a deal by Wednesday. The UAW was not immediately available for comment.

Chrysler is driving a hard bargain with the union, say sources familiar with the talks as the number 3 of the U.S. automakers is under pressure to keep costs due to the weaker financial situation under control as General Motors co and Ford Motor Co.

Chrysler Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said that the company should have a contract as Ford and GM not to so expensive.

"A few of which we have seen, signed between Ford and GM (with the UAW) are likely, in view of Chrysler dilemma... overly generous," Marchionne said on Friday.

The UAW talks with Chrysler began in late July, but last month a halt advised, as the company has pushed for more concessions than his rival Detroit.

GM's simple ratified its new four-year contract with the UAW, late last month. Ford and the Union announced to vote a provisional contract on Tuesday, and the automaker of simple ratification of this week.

Ford was the only one to avoid insolvency and restructuring of the three Detroit automakers in 2009. The UAW said, this vote on Sunday will be completed.

Ford's provisional deal with the UAW at least $16,000 in bonuses gets hourly workers for every veteran. The GM business is slightly less generous, but Ford can benefit as new low-paid workers fill new positions or experienced staff to replace.

CHRYSLER AND ARBITRATION

Chrysler is looking for more freedom, new low-paid workers and hire a less generous bonus program as GM or Ford.

If the company can the business wants to get it, win it too much IHS can automotive insight analyst Aaron from people who said the months, which would probably take it if the dispute arbitration, global Bragman.

"This is the and go only Sergio Marchionne's opportunity for the best contract, the he for slide can," Bragman said on Monday. "It is up for Chrysler really going for it." "If they can go to arbitration, they the workers from the old contract months pay."

Marchionne, like King, said that he wants to reach an agreement and to avoid arbitration.

The company emerged from bankruptcy with a debt burden that contain $7.6 billion in government loans. In may repaid Chrysler this loan by refinancing, which helped to lower interest rates.

Chrysler is eager to keep their fixed costs through 2015, end of the transaction is being negotiated, said that involve people in the talks.

Chrysler with the UAW's contract expired on March 14, extends the offer of October 19 but both sides.

(Additional Deepa Seetharaman and Meghana Keshavan, edit by Matthew Lewis, John Wallace and Lisa von Ahn)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click constraints.

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Chrysler Sales Up 27%; GM Up 20%

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By Michelle Krebs October 3, 2011

Chrysler’s September sales soared 27 percent over a year ago and GM sales rose 20 percent, as the two were the first major automakers Monday to report September vehicle sales, which are forecasted to be at the highest monthly rate since April. September GM sales included strong performances from crossovers and trucks. At Chevrolet, Equinox sales were up 33 percent from a year ago, Chevrolet Silverado pick-up was up 36 percent and the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV soared 63 percent. The Cruze, which replaced the Cobalt, again surpassed the 18,000-unit mark. Chevrolet sold 723 Volts. At Buick, Regal sales soared 87 percent. At GMC, Sierra pickup sales were up 26 percent while Yukon SUV and Terrain crossover sales each climbed 45 percent. Cadillac CTS sales got a 24-percent boost and SRX sales rose 22 percent.

September Chrysler sales overall were the best since 2007, with some brands and models posting their best sales for the month since the year before the 2008 Lehman Brothers collapse that triggered the recession and Chrysler’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Last month marked the best September for the Jeep and Chrysler brands. Jeep Compass (above) soared 306 percent; the Jeep Wrangler set a new September record. Chrysler 200 sales were up 87 percent over the Sebring it replaced; the new Chrysler 300 sedan posted 50-percent hike from the old model. Chrysler minivans posted double-digit percentage sales increases. Ram sales were up 45 percent, the pickup’s best sales month this year and best September since 2007. A 50-percent hike in Chrysler’s retail sales is a positive sign as it accomplished those higher sales to individual customers with incentives lowered from August. In the early post-bankruptcy going, Chrysler relied heavily on fleet sales to boost overall sales.

Nissan sales were up 25.3 percent. The strength came from Nissan Division, especially on car sales. But Infiniti sales, which had been hurt by a lack of supply of vehicles as the result of the March earthquake, edged higher. Volkswagen September sales were up 35.6 percent. Volkswagen of American CEO Jonathan Browning noted that as of end of September, the German automaker had surpassed full-year 2010 sales. A couple of weeks worth of the revamped Beetle and new Tennessee-built Passat were included in VW’s September sales. GM, Chrysler and VW executives predicted Monday that the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of vehicles in September would be about 13.2 million total vehicles (13 million light vehicles) when September car sales figures are tallied at day’s end.

That would match the monthly sales pace of April, just before supply disruptions stemming from the March 11 earthquake in Japan had a full impact on sales. Edmunds.com forecasts car and truck sales at a 12.9 million vehicles, according to Edmunds.com’s forecast. In raw numbers, that translates to September car sales figures of 1,038,052 vehicles, up 8.3 percent from September 2010 but down 3.1 percent from August. Edmunds.com estimates that the retail SAAR will come in at 10.6 million vehicles in September, with fleet sales accounting for 18 percent of all sales this month.

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.

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Eminem Meets Gospel Thanks To Chrysler

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Playing off of the success of its now-famous Super Bowl commercial "Imported From Detroit," Chrysler has launched the "Imported From Detroit Project" in conjunction with rap artist Eminem in an effort to promote the city.

To kick off the project, Chrysler and Eight Mile Style, LLC -- Eminem's music publishing company -- have released a special gospel version of Eminem's song "Lose Yourself." The song is available for purchase on iTunes, with proceeds going to benefit Detroit-based charities.

Chrysler has also released an accompanying music video, in which the Selected of God choir performs the song to images of Detroit life, with a few Chrysler vehicles thrown in for good measure.

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Chrysler And UAW Extend Contract Deadline

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By AutoObserver Staff September 22, 2011

The Chrysler Group LLC announced that it has extended until Oct. 19 the deadline to construct a new 4-year labor agreement. The two parties made headlines last week when details of a letter sent from Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne surfaced, indicating Marchionne’s disappointment with UAW chief Bob King for missing a meeting and for the parties’ failure to negotiate a tentative new deal before the original deadline.

The new extension for the Chrysler-UAW contract talks is a month beyond the first deadline, seemingly indicating that Chrysler and the union have substantial differences. Marchionne said Chrysler could not afford and would not agree to the kind of contract negotiated with General Motors Co. that is waiting for ratification from GM’s UAW membership. The UAW has said it now is shifting its focus to completing a contract with Ford Motor Co., which also extended the timeframe for negotiations with the UAW.

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Chrysler And UAW Extend Contract Deadline

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By AutoObserver Staff September 22, 2011

The Chrysler Group LLC announced that it has extended until Oct. 19 the deadline to construct a new 4-year labor agreement. The two parties made headlines last week when details of a letter sent from Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne surfaced, indicating Marchionne’s disappointment with UAW chief Bob King for missing a meeting and for the parties’ failure to negotiate a tentative new deal before the original deadline.

The new extension for the Chrysler-UAW contract talks is a month beyond the first deadline, seemingly indicating that Chrysler and the union have substantial differences. Marchionne said Chrysler could not afford and would not agree to the kind of contract negotiated with General Motors Co. that is waiting for ratification from GM’s UAW membership. The UAW has said it now is shifting its focus to completing a contract with Ford Motor Co., which also extended the timeframe for negotiations with the UAW.

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