Will Chrysler Kill Jeep Wrangler?
It seems since the announcement of Ch. 11 status by Chrysler, and it’s “merger” with Fiat, things still haven’t stabilized for the struggling American auto maker. The CDJ announced yesterday that a “liquidation of assets” is in store for it’s makes – including the possible cancellation of the long running and successful Jeep Wrangler brand. Needless to say, we’re kinda pissed.
In a press release from Chrysler, they announced: ‘Liquidation of Chrysler assets “assumes that certain car lines and the plant assets supporting them will be sold as going-concern enterprises. These lines include Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Viper and Dodge Ram and Dakota truck lines.”The example of the Jeep Wrangler is instructive, a potential buyer would face significant additional investment costs in the range of $550 million to $1 billion.’
What?? I mean, we get canceling something like the Viper – it’s a small seller, a niche sports car that is not very affordable by most car customer standards. But the Wrangler?? It’s been a successful vehicle since the initial introduction to the private sector nearly 60 years ago! We don’t want to see any Jeep models cut, but why not drop some of the larger, less fuel efficient (and less fun) SUV’s?? Or those crossovers, which aren’t selling well outside of Enterprise Rent-A-Car fleets?! We don’t get it Chrysler…or is Fiat behind all this?
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