CHRYSLER QUOTES AND ADVICE

SIMULCAST WITH www.CURRENTQUOTES.blogspot.com: Chrysler is in deep.  The announcement in November was for 11,000 jobs to be cut.  That adds up to a twelve month total of 23,000 jobs lost and 700,000 vehicles that won't be produced.  The Crossfire, Pacifica, Dodge Magnum, and PT Cruiser convertible?  Gone, baby, gone. Here's what they're saying - whoever they are.

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"We'll get the company sized right for the market we'll be in." Jim Press, Chrysler Co-President, speaks to Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge dealers. -> BusinessWeek

"When they get rid of one model, they may only get back 20% of those buyers with their remaining cars." John Wolkonowicz of the North American Auto Forecasting Group talks about Chrysler LLC's decision to cut models. -> BusinessWeek

"We don't know how many models we're going to have." Suggesting that nobody can know the future of Chrysler's product plans, Jim Press stresses the point to the group of American dealers. -> BusinessWeek

"We'll pick up more quality sales volume." Jim Press, expressing a desire to gain new customers that wouldn't previously have been Chrysler shoppers. -> BusinessWeek

"Isn't it better to do one that's world-class, and then add a crossover utility off the same platform?" Jim Press asks this question rhetorically in regards to the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. -> Forbes

"I think it'll scare a lot of them." Alan Helfman, VP of River Oaks Chrysler Jeep, a Houston-area dealership, refers to people like him and their concerns about headquarter's wishes to place Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge together in as many dealerships as possible. -> Forbes
"You never know what the market is going to throw at us, but yes, the answer is that we have made the appropriate decisions." Jim Press, one of Chrysler's big men, feels that the cutbacks Chrysler has made will suffice.... for now. -> Chicago SunTimes

"You have to make some sacrifices. When I left Toyota I had to leave my Prius and this is what I'm driving now." Former Toyota executive and current Chrysler top gun Jim Press, standing in front of the Dodge Challenger. -> Freep.com

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So Jim Press has intimated that the group (Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge) needs, perhaps, five passenger cars, three SUVs, two crossover SUVs, one minivan, one full-size van, and a family of trucks.  What should they be building in 2012?

1- A Chrysler 300 with improved perceived quality and the diesel option the Europeans get.

2- Take the Chrysler Sebring.  Make it attractive and Accord-competitive and give it a new name; Chrysler .....?

3- If Chrysler wants to have any chance of surviving, younger people need to want that badge.  A Scion competitor may not be required, but a classy alternative based off of a discontinued but improved Caliber would be nice.

4- Sure, the Chrysler Firepower was a bit much.  But it had the appearance of a true Chrysler sports-tourer.  Give us a four-seat, GT alternative to the Nissan 350Z.  Without a hint of sportiness in the lineup Chrysler will be mocked by the more youthful crowd and thus; forgotten.

5- The Pacifica was supposed to be a game-changer.  It couldn't, wasn't, didn't.  As the world goes green, Chrysler will want an alternative to the large-SUV crowd that still craves space and style.  Do it right - think Enclave, Highlander, Ford Flex.

6- Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Liberty all need to be sold, but marketed with some flavour of 'greenness'.  It won't be many years - or months - before such a perceived guzzling/uselessness will be very harmful.  Put all three on a diet and tell the world about the enviro-solution that is techy materials.

7- If Dodge goes all truck, the Grand Caravan may be seen as.... truckish?  In that case, the Town&Country by Chrysler seems to be a better solution.  Jim Press doesn't want to overlap models, but we all know that even as the minivan market stagnates, Chrysler needs their minivans.

8- The Sprinter can keep on chugging.  Like Swedish hockey players and English television hosts, the Sprinter is the best of Europe brought to America.

9- The Ram and Dakota should be seen as simple entry points to the "family of trucks" that the suits at Chrysler are talking about.  Act like Toyota and distinguish one truck by its hybridization: give it a unique name and look.  Slight tinkering with the exterior and interior design could pay big dividends.  Ford's F-150 is cool as a base model or the King Ranch.  Do thou likewise.  Provide larger Cummins badges.  Let Dodge be truck.

There you find GoodCarBadCar's advice to Chrysler LLC.  Take it or.... more likely, leave it. Check out the post at CurrentQuotes by clicking here.