- Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chrysler, Celebrities
Last year, Chrysler made a big splash in the advertising world with its "Imported From Detroit" campaign, a marketing blitz that kicked off with a Super Bowl spot featuring rapper Eminem behind the wheel of a Chrysler 200 sedan. The campaign jumpstarted a national dialogue about Detroit, went on to win an Emmy, and the tagline has since become a cornerstone of Chrysler's marketing efforts. But according to The Wall Street Journal, the Auburn Hills automaker isn't looking to return to The Big Game with Marshall Mathers - it's going with veteran actor Clint Eastwood.
According to the WSJ, Eastwood will feature in an expansive two-minute long ad and the action will likely center on the actor "giving the country a pep talk." While seemingly every other automaker has already spilled the beans on their Super Bowl marketing efforts, the Pentastar is playing its hand close to the vest, with the WSJ unable to get Chrysler to comment on the story.
Click past the jump for a quick refresher on Chrysler's Super Bowl ad with Eminem from 2011.Continue reading Clint Eastwood stepping in for Eminem in Chrysler Super Bowl ad?
Clint Eastwood stepping in for Eminem in Chrysler Super Bowl ad? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Chrysler, Ford, GM
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama visited the Washington Auto Show, and he even had time to get a closer look at a few vehicles. We're guessing that the carmakers were more than happy to set aside some time to talk to the Commander In Chief, but not every automaker got the chance.
Bloomberg says that the Association of Global Automakers is upset because the president only spent time with the Detroit Three, even though other automakers reportedly flew in executives from around the world for the occasion. The executives were reportedly on hand and waiting in a "bullpen" in the event President Obama had any questions about specific vehicles, but The Pres stuck to American cars like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet Silverado.
AGA CEO Michael Stanton voiced his disappointment about the perceived slight, adding that many members "bent over backwards to meet the request from the White House." Stanton also points out that AGA members have invested $43 billion in the U.S. and employ over 80,000 workers here.Foreign auto companies irked by Obama snub at DC Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Earnings/Financials, Fiat
Chrysler employees received some good news this week. The automaker announced it would issue profit-sharing checks worth $1,500 to each of its hourly workers for the first time since 2005. The company posted a $183 million profit for 2011, marking the first time the company has avoided a loss in six years, according to The Detroit Free Press. The earnings were due largely to a host of more compelling vehicles, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Chrysler 200 and 300. Each of those vehicles command a higher price tag than their less-refined predecessors.
On average, buyers have been willing to hand over $3,200 more for their Chrysler vehicles than they did just one year prior. Company CEO Sergio Marchionne said the profit-sharing checks were a reward that the company's workers had earned.
Interestingly enough, parent company Fiat isn't enjoying the same success back home. According to the report, without the earnings from the Italian automaker's stake in Chrysler, Fiat would have reported a $265 million loss in 2011. In a strange turn of fate, Chrysler has begun supporting Fiat. With Italy and the rest of Europe in the throws of a debt crisis, the automaker doesn't look to have a better 2012, either.Chrysler employees to get first profit-share payouts since 2005 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Chrysler, Earnings/Financials
Good news has been in abundant supply for the domestic automakers the last twelve months, and nowhere is that more evident than in the headline to this press release: "Chrysler Group Reports Full Year 2011 Net Income of $183 Million." Now, $183 million isn't exactly a king's ransom in the auto industry (or elsewhere - Apple made $25.92 billion last year). But if Chrysler is making money again for the first time since emerging from bankruptcy, well, perhaps the U.S. auto industry has finally recovered from 2009.
The smallest of the Big Three automakers reported sales of 1,369,114 vehicles in 2011, up 26 percent from 2010. Chrysler led all automakers in percentage sales gains last year, and finished fourth in U.S. sales, behind General Motors, Ford and Toyota. To read the full press release, click past the jump.Continue reading Chrysler posts $183M profit for 2011
Chrysler posts $183M profit for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota
Domestic automakers have much to be happy about, with Chrysler, Ford and General Motors all gaining market share last year for the first time since 1988. Yet according to Bloomberg, 2012 won't be as good to Detroit. Total sales are projected to grow from 12.8 million vehicles last year to 13.6 million, according to the report, but increasing competition from Korea and a Japanese recovery from the natural disasters of 2011 mean those extra sales aren't likely headed to the Big Three.
The news agency spoke to five analysts, and predictions have the U.S. automakers losing 1.3 percentage points this year. The analysts estimate that GM will drop 0.6 of a percent, Ford will lose 0.5 percent, and Chrysler will be down 0.2 percent. Toyota is seen gaining 0.9 percent, with Honda grabbing an extra 0.5 percent, while Hyundai and Kia are only projected to see their combined market share improve by 0.01.
If all this comes true, GM would have the top market share in the U.S. at 19 percent, with Ford in second at 16.3 percent, followed by Toyota at 13.8 percent, Chrysler at 10.5 percent, and Honda at 9.5 percent.Analysts: U.S. automakers will lose marketshare in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Aftermarket, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat
This year Mopar is celebrating 75 years since its name - a combination of MOtor and PARts - was first trademarked. During that time, Mopar has evolved to become synonymous with performance parts for Chrysler and Dodge vehicles, as well as amp'd-up specialty package vehicles, vehicle service and maintenance, and add Fiat to the long list of Chrysler Group brands it supports since the Italian automaker took part ownership in the smallest of Detroit's Big 3.
Anniversaries usually come with presents, and Mopar is bring four to show and share at the Chicago Auto Show next month. The first, and only one that will be sold turn-key, is the '12 Mopar 300, which becomes the brand's third factory-built model for modern times following the '10 Mopar Challenger and '11 Mopar Charger. While offering no more power than a standard 5.7-liter V8-equipped 300, the '12 Mopar does benefit from a new final-drive ratio of 3.91:1 that drops its 0-60 time in the low five-second range, as well as a significantly stiffer suspension, grippier tires and brake system upgrades.
Then there's the exterior. If the plague's preferred method of transmission were by car, this would be its ride. It is the Black Death on wheels, which themselves are 20-inch, 8-spoke forged aluminum rollers painted Gloss Black with Mopar center caps. We especially like the tasteful blue striping that appears across the '12 Mopar's sides and around its rims. While we've yet to see it, Mopar says the interior is equally void of light save for accents of Mopar Blue.
Only 500 of these '12 Mopar 300 models will be built and sold this summer for the price of $49,700, which includes destination charges. Each one will also come with a special box of goodies that includes Mopar-branded key fobs and merch; proof of the vehicle's exact manufacture date and number built; and a sketch of the car signed by its designer.
Follow the jump for three more anniversary models from Mopar.Continue reading Mopar celebrates 75 years with bunch of Chicago-bound special editions
Mopar celebrates 75 years with bunch of Chicago-bound special editions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Crossover, Chrysler, Jeep
In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began a probe of 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty models. Owners were reporting that airbags were deploying when there hadn't been an accident. At the time, there were 39 complaints filed: seven to NHTSA and 32 field reports from Chrysler. Ten of those complaints resulted in injuries.
A report by The Detroit News says the probe has been upgraded - there have now been 87 complaints, with 50 of them resulting in injury. Chrysler hasn't been able to nail down a single cause of, or even a single protocol for the problem; the airbags have deployed on startup and when the car is running - sometimes it's just the driver's side unit and sometimes it's both driver and passenger bags.
There are 386,873 Liberty vehicles included in the probe from those two model years. Chrysler says it is cooperating fully with the investigation and trying to find the source of the issue, with one suggestion being "a transient voltage spike" in a circuit.Feds escalate Jeep Liberty airbag investigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler
The 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee was the first home for Chrysler's Pentastar V6 engine. As you may recall, the powerplant was codenamed "Phoenix," and it was charged with replacing seven other engines in 11 models in the Chrysler and Dodge lineups. Along with it being a well-regarded piece of engineering, its sheer ubiquity goes a long way toward explaining how in just 18 months the Trenton, Michigan plant that produces it has cranked out a million of them.
The 3.6-liter V6 is rated from 283 horsepower up to 305 hp, and can be found under the hood of front-, rear- and four-wheel drive vehicles in varying transmissions. Another signal of how much Chrysler thinks of the Pentastar: after being finagled into the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, rumors last year suggested a twin-turbo version of it could go into the Maserati GranTurismo.
Follow the jump for Chrysler's press release on the seven-figure milestone of a lump voted one of Ward's "10 Best Engines."Continue reading Just 18 months into production, Chrysler builds millionth Pentastar V6
Just 18 months into production, Chrysler builds millionth Pentastar V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Dodge, UAW/Unions
The 2013 Dodge Dart looks like it could be a hit with car buyers, and job seekers near the automaker's Belvidere, Illinois plant can likely appreciate the new sedan as well. The Detroit Free Press reports that Chrysler is looking to staff up with 400 to 500 jobs to help move as many Dart variants as possible.
Team Pentastar is looking for part-time hourly and full-time temporary workers to fill those roles. We're guessing the United Auto Workers union isn't all that pleased with the choice of temp workers, but we're betting that most job-seekers will be happy to fill out an app anyway. Chrysler was considering moving the Belvidere facility to three shifts, but the automaker reportedly decided to stick with two very busy shifts, at least for now.
Chrysler to hire 400-500 workers to build Dodge Dart originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Motorsports, Chrysler, Australia
Wherever you find General Motors and Ford going at it, Chrysler is seldom very far behind. Except in Australia. The Land Down Under has its own unique touring car championship in the form of its popular V8 Supercars series, but the only contestants these days are Ford (with its FPV Falcon) and GM subsidiary Holden (with its HSV Commodore). That, however, could change in the near future.
Word on the Aussie street is that Chrysler Group Australia is entertaining the possibility of jumping into the popular series, likely with a vehicle based (however loosely) on the 300. Because V8 Supercars teams - which budget around $10 million to run two cars for the season - are by regulation independent of any manufacturer, Chrysler would need to woo a few away from their current Ford or Holden partners, but several have reportedly approached the Pentastar automaker about the possibility.
The addition of a third manufacturer to challenge Ford and Holden would mirror a similar move made this season by BMW to challenge Audi and Mercedes-Benz (which was also rumored to be considering a V8 Supercars entry) in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). Chrysler previously supplied the V8 Supercars series with the first-gen 300C SRT8, which serves as the pace car for several years.
According to Australia's The Age, SRT brand CEO Ralph Gilles reportedly likes the idea, but stopped short of committing to any impending program. The prospect, however, could be made more feasible by a new, more cost-effective "Car of the Future" being implemented in V8 Supercars, much as the "Car of Tomorrow" was in NASCAR and the "Next-Generation Touring Car" was in the British Touring Car Championship. Another plus is the expansion of the series outside of Australia to locations like India, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and - most crucially - the United States as a support race for the upcoming U.S. Grand Prix Formula One race in Austin, Texas.Chrysler considering entry into Australia's V8 Supercar series? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Sedan, Auctions, Etc., Government/Legal, Chrysler, Celebrities
UPDATE: Not surprisingly, President Obama's former daily driver failed to sell on eBay Motors with a starting bid of $1 million. The owner reportedly wants to list the car again closer to the presidential election this fall, and may lower the price as well as give some of the proceeds to charity.
History has yet to voice its opinion on the legacy of President Barack Obama, but one enterprising eBay seller is already looking to cash in on one very big piece of Obama memorabilia. A 2005 Chrysler 300C that allegedly belonged to the Commander In Chief (back when he was an Illinois senator) has hit eBay Motors.
As you may recall, Obama sent the big V8 sedan packing in favor of a Ford Escape Hybrid when he began his campaign for the presidency. The 300C currently has 20,800 miles. Obama is said to have put 19,000 of those on the clock himself between 2004 and 2007. With so few miles and a healthy 5.7-liter V8 under the hood, this is likely the nicest 300C you'll ever lay eyes on, but the buyer wants a pretty penny for the machine.
Right now, the vehicle has a starting bid of $1 million. Not surprisingly, even though the seller says he's got the paperwork to prove the vehicle's provenance, no one has stepped up with the coin. As of the time of writing, the auction has less than a day left on the clock. Head over to eBay Motors to have a look at the auction for yourself.eBay Find of the Day: Barack Obama's 2005 Chrysler 300C [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Crossover, Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo
Don't cry for the Dodge Avenger just yet. According to USA Today, Chrysler is set to introduce new midsized sedans to replace both the Chrysler 200 and the much-maligned Dodge Avenger. The vehicles will be built on a version of the same platform that underpins the 2013 Dodge Dart. That news runs contrary to word that the Avenger is headed to the great scrap pile in the sky after the current generation runs its course. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is looking to shore up the company's small car efforts and spread the cost of platform development across as many models as possible.
Marchionne also made mention of introducing a new hybrid hatchback under the Chrysler 100 nameplate, though details are scarce at the moment.
USA Today reports the same platform may be used for the next-generation Jeep Liberty and Compass, which are slated to debut sometime in 2013. Marchionne says both vehicles will be trail-rated and capable of standing up to the kind of abuse Jeep buyers demand. Even so, the CEO says the vehicles will have their "origins in the architecture of a sports car."
Speaking of sports cars, Marchionne also made it clear Alfa Romeo is still coming to the States, though the Italian brand's strategy has shifted somewhat. The models headed to the U.S. market will be lightweight and powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine offering 300 horsepower. Certainly sounds good to us.Chrysler planning Dodge Avenger successor after all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, GM, Earnings/Financials
2008 was one crazy, almost surreal year. It was the year when the economy took a nosedive, and the U.S. auto industry nearly ceased to exist. One of the last major decisions former President Bush made before he left office was to give Chrysler and General Motors a combined $17.4 billion to keep their doors open.
That money held over the two automakers for a few months, but The Detroit News reports that the Bush administration almost took a different tack. The New Yorker published a 57-page economic memo that was written by economist Larry Summers to President Elect Obama. The memo claims that President Bush was noodling an earlier bankruptcy for the automakers, backed by up to $100 billion in government financing.
By instead forwarding GM and Chrysler a bridge loan, Bush (pictured here with former Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli) effectively prolonged the inevitable and pushed the tough decision on to the next administration. But that could have been the best possible action to take - Summers was reportedly of the opinion that pushing the automakers through bankruptcy too early could have severely damaged the entire U.S. auto industry - not just at Chrysler and GM.
In the end, Chrysler entered bankruptcy in April, followed by GM in June. Chrysler no longer owes the federal government any money, though Uncle Sam still owns 26.5 percent of The General. As a result of the Bush administration's choices, the Obama administration is the one that gets the blame and credit (depending on your political viewpoint) for shepherding the two automakers through bankruptcy.Memo says Bush administration almost pushed GM and Chrysler into earlier bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, Earnings/Financials, Canada
Ford has announced that it will give both bonuses and merit-based raises to the company's salaried workers in the United States and Canada for the first time since 2008, according to Reuters. On average, the manufacturer will offer a 2.7 percent salary increase based on individual performance. The company stopped offering the bonuses after the financial crisis of 2009 sent automotive sales into a plunge. Ford paid neither bonuses nor merit raises that year, but offered merit raises in 2010. In 2011, the company's workers received bonuses only.
Of course, this decision has sent all eyes toward General Motors and Chrysler and their plans for their own workers. According to The Detroit News, both GM and Chrysler have said raises and bonuses will be determined by their own performance, not their rival's actions. GM has announced the company will make a final decision after it analyzes its financial results for 2011. Chrysler, meanwhile, intends to announce its fourth-quarter 2011 results on February 1, after which it will determine whether its workers will be eligible for their yearly awards.Ford to pay bonuses and raises, GM and Chrysler decline to do same originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chrysler, Luxury
Imported From Detroit And Then Some
To the average driver, the term "horsepower" has, for all intents and purposes, no meaning whatsoever. Not surprising, really, as there isn't any single established explanation, at least not a good one, as to how today's piston-powered engines became so intertwined with the output of a horse. Think, for a moment: Can you really quantify how much power 200 horses produce? Regardless, and though not all engines have been measured with the same methods of certification, enthusiasts of the four-wheeled kind have well over a century of automobiles and their attendant horsepower ratings with which to occupy themselves.
The Ford Model T, way back in 1908, offered up 20 horsepower. The original air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle was rated at 50 horses or less, depending on the year and displacement. Fast-forward to 1955, when Chevrolet's newly introduced small-block V8 made an impressive 162 hp, and then to the release in 1964 of the Pontiac GTO and its 348-horsepower Tri-Power engine. We'll shimmy right past the lamentable 1970s and '80s (in 1975, it was possible to buy a Chevrolet Corvette with as few as 165 horses) because, more recently, there's been a very welcome power resurgence.
Our Editor-in-Chief's beloved 1991 Ford Taurus SHO is fitted with a Yamaha 3.0-liter V6 that was factory rated at 220 horsepower, and a few short years later, the 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS offered up a 260-horsepower V8. We bring up the SHO and Impala because they are four-door sedans, meaning horsepower need not be dismissed by the average man who must pile in his spouse and 2.5 children.
And now we have the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. Lurking behind its blacked-out grille is a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine that ripples the pavement with 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. To put that figure into perspective, its more ponies than such high-horse heavy hitters as the latest Chevrolet Camaro SS and Ford Mustang GT. In fact, it's 40 horsepower more than the 2012 Corvette. Giddyup.
Certainly, there's more to the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 than its honker of a V8. But let's not kid ourselves - if the SRT8 is on your shopping list, it's 6.4-liter V8 is what put it there.Continue reading 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 [w/video]
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Hatchback, Daimler, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota
According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, Toyota is considering a partnership with Daimler to build Mercedes-Benz' A- and B-Class sub-compacts on the Japanese automaker's MC platform. The idea is to maximize the efficiency and output of Toyota's European plants, and could also include sharing development costs on each brand's next generation flagships: the Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class. Daimler has dismissed the report as "speculation," while a Toyota Motor Europe spokesman toed the company line, only saying "It's part of our normal business practice that we regularly talk to other carmakers but there are no specific projects planned at the moment."
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Reuters]REPORT: Toyota considering cooperation with Daimler on compact, full-size models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz/Tesla press conference - Click above for ABG's liveblog coverage
During a press conference held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart this morning, Dr. Thomas Weber, the head of research and development for Mercedes-Benz, announced that Daimler is buying a 10% stake in Tesla Motors. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also on hand for the announcement. The companies did not specify the amount paid by Daimler, other than it was in the double digit millions. Daimler will be providing Tesla with engineering support and possibly parts that may go into the Model S. Tesla, meanwhile, will continue providing battery packs for the second-generation Smart ED starting later this year. Tesla will also focus on battery pack integration and battery management systems for Daimler going forward.
The deal will also give Tesla access to the automotive lithium ion cells being produced by Daimler's investment in Li-Tec, a joint venture between Evonik and Daimler. Weber announced that Daimler would commence series production of electric Smarts in 2012, with volume projections in the five digits.
Daimler's Prof. Herbert Kohler (who is in charge of e-drive systems at the German automaker) will take up a board seat at Tesla and oversee development at the California company. We live blogged the conference at AutoblogGreen this morning and the official press release is after the jump.
[Source: Daimler]
Continue reading Daimler buys 10% stake in Tesla, will supply parts and engineering
Daimler buys 10% stake in Tesla, will supply parts and engineering originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 May 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Chrysler, Daimler, Earnings/Financials
Hot on the heels of the Chrysler's tentative deal with the UAW to cut the automaker's VEBA obligations, Daimler AG has announced it's finally reached an agreement to unload its remaining stake in Chrysler. According to Daimler's release, the company's 19.9% stake in Chrysler will be redeemed and Daimler write off a $1.5 billion loan which will help (if it can) avoid putting Chrysler into bankruptcy and facilitate the automaker's deal with Fiat. The agreement is likely to reduce Daimler's second-quarter earnings (before interest and taxes) by around $700 million, however, the German giant had already written down its stake in Chrysler last year. The agreement also includes Daimler paying $200 million into Chrysler's pension plans once the agreements are definitive, and another $200 million each year until 2011. All the gritty details are available in the press release below the fold.
[Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]Continue reading Daimler agrees to give up remaining stake in Chrysler
Daimler agrees to give up remaining stake in Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Chrysler, Daimler, Earnings/Financials
Nerves are frazzled in Stuttgart over the troubles facing Chrysler. Let's not forget that Daimler still has a skin in the Chrysler game, and while everyone natters and frets about whether or not Fiat will prove to be the Savior Of Auburn Hills, execs are also thinking about the worst-case scenario in the halls of Daimler.
According to the Detroit Bureau, Bodo Uebber, Daimler's Chrysler guy, reported recently that concerned shareholders are rightfully nervous, as Daimler could be stuck with a $1 billion liability if Chrysler ist kaput. Unfunded pensions and potential claims from suppliers could result in very bad things for Daimler. Cerberus and the German automaker are also duking it out over whether Chrysler's health was honestly disclosed at the time of the deal, tying up any developments with the remaining 19.9 percent of Chrysler that Daimler still owns. Both Uebber and Dieter Zetsche, Daimler's CEO, are actively trying to unload the company's stake in Chrysler to Cerberus, but predictably, that conversation isn't going anywhere at the moment.
[Source: The Detroit Bureau | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
REPORT: If Chrysler goes down, it could cost Daimler $1 billion originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Hatchback, Daimler, Smart, Lifestyle
Last October we advised you not to hold your breath for Daimler's Car2Go program to come to America. You can breathe again. If you live in Austin, Texas you'll be able to rent a mild hybrid Smart ForTwo by the minute this fall. Austin was chosen because of its university population and its concern for the environment.
Car2Go makes its fleet available on-demand, with a clear price structure, and you can keep the car as long as you wish. Those in the program access the vehicles by swiping a tag on their driver's licenses over a card reader on the car. As with the pilot program in Ulm, Germany the service will start in Austin with an initial fleet, expected to consist of around 200 Smarts that will be available to city employees first and then expand to public use at the conclusion of a trial period.
[Source: Canadian Driver]Daimler's Car2Go program coming to Austin, Texas this fall originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Green, Work, Daimler
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Freightliner Innovation Truck
Daimler Trucks North America has used the Mid-America Trucking Show in Kentucky to release its latest concept in commercial-grade hauling. The Innovation Truck concept takes the fuel-saving innovations introduced on the Freightliner Cascadia, already the most aerodynamic of the company's trucks, and turns them up to eleven.
Included in the aero tweaks are rear wheel fairings, underbody panels, a roof deflector and a front air splitter. Further, the side mirrors were replaced with cameras to reduce drag. Once up to speed, the Innovation Truck can lower its ride height using air bladders, further reducing fuel usage. Wireless tire pressure monitoring also sends data to an onboard navigation/infotainment screen in the cabin. Also present on the truck is Freightliner's new RunSmart Predictive Cruise control.
With such a focus on fuel savings, it's not surprising that Daimler has fitted the diesel powerplant with its BlueTec emissions after-treatment system, which injects a urea-based fluid directly into the exhaust to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Lastly, ParkSmart VHAC technology allows the truck's climate control systems to operate without running the truck's engine using electricity from a second bank of batteries.
Daimler says that the Innovation Truck concept is meant to "show our customers what they can expect from us in the near future," so we'll be on the lookout for menacing flat black semi trucks the next time we're headed out for a road trip.
[Source: Daimler]Continue reading Freightliner unveils big rig concept showcasing future technology
Freightliner unveils big rig concept showcasing future technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Budget, Etc., Green, Technology, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz F-Cell Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery
Times may be tough, but that isn't stopping Daimler from having a bit of expensive-looking fun with its trainees... so long as there's an educational bent to it. What you see before you isn't an artful series of renderings, it's an actual time-warping fuel cell concept dubbed "F-CELL Roadster."
It took a year and more than 150 trainees to create, but the entire project involved using "junior employees", giving the company's up-and-coming employees a creative way to learn how alternative-fuel systems come together.
The F-CELL Roadster marries Benz Patent Motor Car stylings with 21st century tech wonderfully, including that legendary vehicle's general aesthetic and proportions, along with old-meets-new technologies like carbon-fiber buckets capped in hand-stitched leather and a drive-by-wire central control joystick.
The centerpiece, of course, is the Roadster's fuel cell powertrain, which has a power rating of 1.2 kilowatts, a top speed of 25 kilometers-per-hour, and a range of 350 kilometers. That means you'll have a long, slow trip, just like those adventuring motorists back at the turn of the century. Official press release posted after the jump.
[Source: Mercedes]Continue reading Mercedes-Benz unveils retrofuturistic F-Cell Roadster built by trainees
Mercedes-Benz unveils retrofuturistic F-Cell Roadster built by trainees originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill
Last week, we told you how despite the downturn, Daimler is upping its investment in the state of Michigan, coming to terms with the city of Ann Arbor to build a new hybrid and electric R&D facility. Now, Automotive News is reporting that the automaker is expected to actually expand its Vance, Alabama production plant.
If the rumors are true, the Mercedes-Benz plant (which currently builds GL, M, and R class vehicles) will benefit from a $290 million investment that is to begin within 60 days. The news evidently leaked out after company officials contacted the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority about property and sales tax breaks (which it apparently received).
The expansion news comes at an odd time, as not only has the automaker's sales been flagging in the U.S. (down 20 percent in February year-over-year, admittedly much better than the market plunge of 41.4 percent), but sales of Vance-built SUVs in particular have fallen off, with Benz responding by reducing the plant's workforce.
Automotive News says the expansion effort won't be completed until 2011, but word yet on how much capacity this will give the plant (and what it will be used for) is not yet known.
[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]
Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz expected to expand Alabama plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Middle East
The global auto industry is enduring its worst crisis in decades, and iconic companies with 100-year histories are being pushed to the brink. Luxury automaker Daimler is no different, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17% in the past quarter and posting a loss of $1.95 billion in the fourth quarter alone. To help alleviate the a major cash crunch, Daimler has sold off 9.1% of the company to Abu Dhabi firm Aabar Investments PJSC.
Aabar purchased 96.4 million shares at a 5% discount under the stock price of 21.34 euros. Daimler shares were selling for 45 euros a piece before the rug was pulled out from under global luxury car sales. Both companies consider the partnership to be a long-term investment, as Daimler will need all the help it can get weathering brutal automobile sales slump. The two companies will also collaborate on electric vehicle development and Daimler will build a training center in Abu Dhabi. Thanks for the tip, Abdul!
[Source: Bloomberg | Photo: Torsten Silz/Getty]REPORT: Daimler sells 9.1% stake to Abu Dhabi firm for $2.7 billion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Technology, Work, Daimler
The next step in cruise control comes courtesy of Freightliner semis and GPS data company NAVTEQ. Freightliner broadened communication between the cruise control and map data: the GPS transmits information on the road ahead up to a mile, and then the cruise control computes the best speed at which to cover the distance with the greatest fuel efficiency.
It's called RunSmart Predictive Cruise, and it employs slope data from the NAVTEQ system that has been collected on 200,000 miles of the most used truck routes. While RunSmart is looking for peak efficiency, it won't sacrifice speed; the system remains within 6% of the set speed. It's an available option on Freightliner's Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Cascadia model with the 72-inch raised roof.
[Source: Daimler]Freightliner debuts RunSmart Predictive Cruise Control originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz
In an all-too-rare win for Detroit's automaker base, the state of Michigan and Daimler have reportedly reached a deal to see a new Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric car research and development facility built in neighboring Ann Arbor. Among other things, the facility will develop hybrid transmissions, electric motors, and powertrain management software.
The German automaker is reportedly seeking a 65,000 square-foot facility to house the R&D works, and the development will also see the relocation of an existing facility currently located in Troy. Over the course of the next decade, the new operation is expected to represent a $9.9 million investment and generate 454 jobs - 223 of them directly. However, in order to secure the facility in Michigan (California and South Carolina were reportedly also considered), the state has had to cough up a tax break package worth some $7.5 million over 10 years.
[Source: MLive]REPORT: Daimler to open Mercedes hybrid electric research base in MI originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: BMW, Daimler
Luxury automobile sales have been hit especially hard during the global economic disaster, and Daimler and BMW may become much closer allies as a result. German magazine Der Spiegel published a report stating that the two luxury giants are working to combine their purchasing power to save hundreds of millions of dollars. But the really interesting cooperation will reportedly happen in the form of a stock swap.
Under the alleged agreement, each company would give the other a 7% stake in the other. The move would strengthen the German automaker's new bond and perhaps lead to further cash-saving collaboration down the road. The magazine reports that the Quandt family, who own 46% of BMW, isn't keen on the idea due to Daimler's 1998 takeover of Chrysler. But the German government has allegedly been contacted to gauge the possibility of overriding any opposition to the deal. Talk of a BMW/Daimler tie up have been circulating for years, but the rumor tree has yet to bear any fruit. Due to the shabby state of the global automotive market, that could change quickly.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]BMW and Daimler consider swapping shares in cross-ownership plan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Earnings/Financials
Daimler is the latest in a long line of automakers to post a heavy decline for Q4 earnings in 2008. The German automaker was in the red to the tune of $1.95 billion, which is isn't a surprise considering October through December was among the worst periods for car sales in modern times. The loss was also a big swing from the $2.14 billion in profit Daimler posted in Q4 2007. Sales shrunk by 17% for the quarter as well, with net cash flow down by 12% to $26.9 billion. A big portion of Daimler's loss came courtesy of Chrysler, as the German automaker's 19.9% stake resulted in $1.4 billion in losses. Daimler is looking to unload it's share of Chrysler, but at this point will likely have to pay a massive premium to take the Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker off its books.
Daimler still managed a $1.77 billion profit in 2008, though that's down from $3.77 billion just one year earlier. Don't expect Daimler to make any predictions for 2009, either. The automaker is expecting continued struggles ahead for Mercedes-Benz, as the economic downturn is pinching wealthier buyers just as much as the rest of us.
[Source: Detroit News | Photo by TORSTEN SILZ/AFP/Getty]Daimler posts $1.95 billion fourth-quarter loss originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz
Wolfgang Bernhard is coming back to Daimler. The man who helped facilitate the sale of Chrysler to Cerebus, was instrumental in the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve supercar concept, and, most notably, the guy that drove the V10-powered Tomahawk motorcycle onto the stage at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, will take over the van division of Mercedes-Benz on April 1st.
Bernard's return to Daimler comes as a bit of shock, considering he was the assumed successor to Dieter Zetsche as the head of M-B before he left under duress after a ten-year stint with the automaker. Soon afterward, he took the top position at Volkswagen and was later ousted after some boardroom shenanigans involving Ferdinand Piech.
Recently, Bernard was reportedly working as an advisor to Magna International, but in these tumultuous times, we're sure Wolfgang was looking for a more steady position.
[Source: Reuters]Baby Come Back: Wolfgang Bernhard returns to Daimler originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Chrysler, Daimler, Fiat
For over a decade, ownership of Chrysler has been bouncing back and forth over the Atlantic like an Airbus jet. Since its founding in 1925, it was independently owned and operated right out of Detroit, then Daimler bought controlling interest in 1998, only to sell it to U.S.-based Cerberus Capital Management. Now Fiat is poised to assume a 35% stake in the company. So the question is, who holds controlling interest? Well in short, nobody does. Daimler holds nearly 20%, Fiat's taking over 35%, leaving Cerberus with 45% - the lion's share, but short of controlling interest.
But while the majority of Chrysler's shares may be back in Europe, Daimler isn't interested in holding onto its stake. Daimler and Cerberus had been talking about transferring ownership of the remaining 20% for a while already, but with America's financial institutions in shambles, who knows if the capital management company can even manage to find the capital to buy the rest of the company. In the meantime, it looks like Chrysler's at the whim of European automakers... yet again.
[Source: Reuters]Who's the Boss? Daimler still wants to offload remaining stake in Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Archive for the 'CHRYSLER' Category
Saturday, September 29th, 2007
Filed under: Economy, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Chrysler, Dodge
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The Dodge Hornet is about to be officially a go. Dodge’s Euro B-segment entrant will be produced with Chinese automaker Chery, and won’t have a Chrysler-branded counterpart. The show car, from the 2006 Geneva show, had a supercharged 4-cylinder with 170 hp, and got to 60 in 6.7 seconds. Autocar believes the production version may bow as early as this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, though we think that’s a bit optimistic.
The good thing is that the Hornet’s impending production is part of Chrysler’s 3-year, $3-billion product renewal program, which has been “confirmed” since Cerberus bought the company. Though it will likely debut at a European auto show, we have high hopes that Chrysler will bring its Chinese-built B-car to the U.S., as well.
[Source: Autocar]
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Posted in Automotive News, CHRYSLER, Concept Cars, DODGE, Passenger Cars, World Cars | No Comments »
Saturday, January 27th, 2007
2007 Chrysler Nassau concept.В Charles V. Tines / The Detroit News
Posted in Automotive News, CHRYSLER, Passenger Cars, Tuning Cars, World Cars | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 27th, 2005
Details info:
Alternative names:
Sales Company:
Available version:
3.5 V6 24v 4wd AutoStick
Previous version:
Variation:
Startech (Germany) Chrysler tuning
Donors:
Posted in CHRYSLER | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 27th, 2005
Details info: Alternative names:
Crossfire (Chrysler Europe – Germany)
Chrysler Crossfire Roadster 2d
Sales Company:
Chrysler Europe (Germany)
Available version:
3.2 V6 18v 160kW
3.2 V6 18v aut. 160kW
SRT-6 – 3.2 V6 18v 246kW Supercharged
SRT-6 – 3.2 V6 18v 246 kW Supercharged aut.
Previous version:
Assembly Plans:
Karmann (Germany)
Info:
Chrysler Crossfire was developed after a concept version of the car was revealed at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A production version was unveiled one year later at the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show. Manufactured by Karmann in Germany this new sporting coupe is a symbol of the possibilites of the DaimlerChrysler Group. Powertrain and axle components are shared from Mercedes-Benz cars.
11000 cars are scheduled to be produced in 2003.
Donors:
Posted in CHRYSLER | No Comments »
Monday, December 26th, 2005
Details info: Alternative names:
Chrysler Crossfire CoupГ© 3d
Sales Company:
Chrysler Europe (Germany)
Available version:
3.2 V6 18v 160kW
3.2 V6 18v aut. 160kW
SRT-6 – 3.2 V6 18v 246kW Supercharged
SRT-6 – 3.2 V6 18v 246kW Supercharged
Previous version:
Variation:
Startech (Germany) Chrysler tuning
Startech (Germany) CoupГ©
Info:
Chrysler Crossfire was developed after a concept version of the car was revealed at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A production version was unveiled one year later at the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show. Manufactured by Karmann in Germany this new sporting coupe is a symbol of the possibilites of the DaimlerChrysler Group. Powertrain and axle components are shared from Mercedes-Benz cars.
11000 cars are scheduled to be produced in 2003.
Assembly Plants:
Karmann (Germany)
Donors:
Posted in CHRYSLER | No Comments »
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