Fiat Chrysler Outlines Vehicle Strategy
August 26 2015 - 12:00AM
Dow Jones News
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV Chief Sergio Marchionne laid out
plans for future U.S. products for 7,000 dealers attending a
meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday, presenting a blueprint that
included a new plug-in minivan, an updated Dodge Charger and new
Jeep SUVs, according to people in attendance.
Mr. Marchionne has made headlines with recent calls for industry
consolidation and has been criticized by some competitors and
analysts for having a relatively dry product pipeline. The
executive, who took control of Chrysler after its 2009 bankruptcy,
has ambitious plans for the Fiat Chrysler group following several
years of rapid growth in the U.S.
While Mr. Marchionne didn't show dealers how the next generation
of the popular Jeep Wrangler SUV will look, he said the vehicle
would achieve 30 miles per gallon, according to dealers in
attendance. That is a lofty target for a vehicle long viewed as
being more rugged than fuel efficient.
A Fiat Chrysler spokesman declined to comment on the meeting.
The next generation of the Wrangler, one of Fiat Chrysler's bigger
profit generators, is due in 2017.
A standout of the presentation was a new Dodge Charger, with
dealers likening the model to a four-door version of General Motors
Co.'s Chevrolet Corvette sports car. The company also plans a new
Chrysler crossover vehicle, and two new products for Jeep: a small,
compact SUV and the long-awaited larger Grand Wagoneer.
More than a half dozen vehicles were shown to dealers. Auto
makers often stage similar future-product events for their
retailers, and this is the third one Mr. Marchionne has presided
over.
One of the concerns facing Fiat Chrysler has been meeting
aggressive fuel-economy mandates set by U.S. regulators for 2025. A
plug-in hybrid-electric version of a minivan, a segment where Fiat
Chrysler is strong, was shown to dealers Tuesday, and that could
help the company better address emissions standards.
Write to Jeff Bennett at jeff.bennett@wsj.com and Christina
Rogers at christina.rogers@wsj.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 25, 2015 23:45 ET (03:45 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2015 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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