FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne dead ... FCA stocks down 11% ... what now??

[RzeroB]

Hmmm? Where does it now go from here??

https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/25/news/companies/sergio-marchionne-obit/index.html

[72 Challenger]

FCA isn't doing well as a whole but Stock prices are not the sole indicator. The price is down for all sorts of environmental reasons aswell Tariff Uncertainty, NAFTA uncertainty, established Supply Chain interruptions.

I thought they had brought the head of Jeep forward to replace him? I really like where Jeep is going with some of their products so If he keeps that vision going it could be a good time for Chrysler.

I think being connected to FIAT is going to kill them. I can't see that brand surviving much longer in North America. They sell a re-bagged Mazda, the small fiat 500 that cannot be restyled otherwise it won't have that nostalgia factor and a really ugly Small SUV based on a Jeep Renegade platform.

[RUNCHARGER]

RIP Sergio, that's a sad ending to his life.
It is a great time for someone to pick up Chrysler and bring control of it back to North America, it is doomed connected to Fiat.

[303 Mopar]

RIP Sergio, that's a sad ending to his life.
It is a great time for someone to pick up Chrysler and bring control of it back to North America, it is doomed connected to Fiat.

I agree, very sad for him being young too. While I would love to see Chrylser based back in NA, do you think it could see as much R&D and Marketing investment as it has as a separate entity?

[RUNCHARGER]

That would be the problem. Although a lot of their programs have bust. The new pick up trucks lost their originality, the 200 was a bust, I think the Chrysler brand is pretty much dead. The Challenger and Charger are both overdue to be changed out if not renewed. I don't watch Jeep but a few people say they have a few updated products. Chrysler sure has had an interesting history, so hopefully another rabbit gets pulled out of the hat.

[bpsmopar]

As a Chrysler dealer for over 45 years I have seen much worse times. Measures have been and are in place going forward that Sergio designed with Mike Manley & other protégés in his circle.
In several ways FCA is healthier today than it was 2 years ago. Several new models are in the queue
that will come to market over the next 2-3 years. This won't change with Sergio's passing.
The only issues that could delay these launches are NAFTA & tariff agreements. Trump tactics that could backfire on him. 

[RUNCHARGER]

Well, that sounds good. Lets hope it keeps rolling then.

[kawahonda]

I'm only 33, and even I know that this $hit is repeated history.

People, the "Dodge" brand is not dying. It may spread out and change, but it is not dying. To me, a "RAM" truck is still a "Dodge" truck. I will refuse to call it "Ram." The Ram logo on 2008-2010 Challengers is just ridiculous!

The Chrysler 300 is the greatest modern Dodge car. Unlike the Challenger and Charger, it doesn't try to hide what it is. It doesn't try to make itself smaller (sorry, I can see bloated pigs miles away). It celebrates its sharp lines and screams in your face "I'm square, now what?". The Challenger/Charger try to recreate the past and do so successfully as possible given their safety, frame (e-class), and design constraints, but there's no reason why it should weigh as much as a 300 while doing so. They're all the same thing. Modern Dodge muscle cars are pigs, and the 300 doesn't care if it's a pig. Therefor, the Charger/ Challenger create an artificial sense of being, to me. You may feel "bad ass" driving your 6.4L Challenger/Charger, but guess what? There's a 6.4L 300 in other parts of the world (not sold here to my knowledge) that will run with you and the 300 doesn't try to "recreate" anything...it's just being itself. That is why I think the 300 will be the "muscle car" of today. Why should a Luxury car be just as fast as "performance orientated car"? I guess that's my point here. It's all the same. So the more original car wins. And the 300 is the more original car....

History of Violence, watch it. The car is a character in the movie.

Anyways, point being, I recommend watching the "The Abstract of Art" on Netflix. Specifically, the episode that focuses on Ralph Gilles. Real companies are about design, not about CEOs or any other crap that are at the helm that don't really know what's going on. Learn about Ralph. He's the one that envisioned everything we see today. He created the 300. He influenced all the cars from Dodge that are out right now. And his original letter to Chrysler before college is just so cool. He loved Chrysler more than anything else. He wanted to lead it. People with dedication deserve where they are in life because they earned it. Watch it, you'll feel the same way....

If you love Mopar, you will love Ralph, and ignore all this executive CEO crap that pours out in the news. It doesn't matter if "Chrysler' exists or not. But "Mopar' will always exist. The vans sell very well (still). The trucks are in 3rd place (have always been in 3rd place, which isn't a bad place). Jeep products make a killing in the market. Things like that just don't "go away." No time for doom, people!

[dodj]

I thought they had brought the head of Jeep forward to replace him?

Mike Manley (from Jeep) was picked for the job a few days ago. Prior to Sergio's passing.

[72 Challenger]

I don't think Chrysler as a corporation is going anywhere but I don't think they have done enough to modernise themselves to be super profitable for a long time.

[340challconvert]

I hope Sergio is resting in peace
Fiat's have never been a great car in the US.
Back in the 70's there was always mechanical and body issues.  They were junk
Fiat's today; I don't think I could ever buy one.  They are one of the biggest car companies in Europe

Sergio could have cared less about Mopar
He was axing or selling off parts of Chrysler to the Chinese and keeping the profitable divisions (trucks, jeeps), but even considering selling RAM to the Chinese. (Wall Street Journal)
Chrysler is now non existent and many car companies are moving away from manufacturing cars in favor of SUV's and trucks
AS ALWAYS; any money made from sales from foreign car companies in America goes back to the mother country and increases our trade deficit with that nation. When we buy one, the money goes to Italy.
Fiat has done a great job marketing Challengers and Chargers over the last few years, but it will be interesting to see if these cars even survive? May be the Jeep guy will be able to keep the Mopar heritage alive.
Enjoy the new Challenger and Chargers while we have them.

[kawahonda]

I hope Sergio is resting in peace
Fiat's have never been a great car in the US.
Back in the 70's there was always mechanical and body issues.  They were junk
Fiat's today; I don't think I could ever buy one.  They are one of the biggest car companies in Europe

Sergio could have cared less about Mopar
He was axing or selling off parts of Chrysler to the Chinese and keeping the profitable divisions (trucks, jeeps), but even considering selling RAM to the Chinese. (Wall Street Journal)
Chrysler is now non existent and many car companies are moving away from manufacturing cars in favor of SUV's and trucks
AS ALWAYS; any money made from sales from foreign car companies in America goes back to the mother country and increases our trade deficit with that nation. When we buy one, the money goes to Italy.
Fiat has done a great job marketing Challengers and Chargers over the last few years, but it will be interesting to see if these cars even survive? May be the Jeep guy will be able to keep the Mopar heritage alive.
Enjoy the new Challenger and Chargers while we have them.

Must agree with this. Although, the Jeep Renegade to my knowledge is making a killing, which is almost entirely a Fiat vehicle. It's hard to not buy them at the prices they are going for, brand new! I must say...what a cool car. Being 6'4", it's a bit too small for me, but I can understand why it would appeal to many people.

Yep, we have to be very thankful about the Challenger/Charger. I don't think they are making a "killing", but it I wouldn't say that they are losing money. You see modern Challengers/Chargers everywhere. Go for a 5 mile drive and you'll see a few easily. I absolutely loved how the Challenger was re-established in 2008. The Charger however...while a very functional 4-door performance "sedan", did not really undertake the original heritage like the Challenger did. The Charger is really an Avenger 2.0. In many ways, a more practical car, but not a "Charger."

The issue for me is the modern Challenger didn't undertake ENOUGH heritage. Like I mentioned above, the Challenger/Charger is a Chrysler 300 with rounded body panels. It costs just as much. It weighs just as much. It's nothing special, and will NEVER be "sought after" due to the production numbers. The 5.7 is a fun modern engine and gets the job done, but Dodge had to go make the 6.4L available in a completely different package and a whole 'lota more coin to obtain..and you were forced to either buy the Scat Pack (very stiff suspension and very high markup) or the SRT ("luxury" vehicle) to obtain one. Why can't I have the softer R/T suspension and the minimal "touch screen" with a 6.4L? That's HOW it was back in the day. I'm lucky to be apart of this forum because I had it in my mind I was going to buy a used 2012-2014 Challenger SRT. I learned everything about them. I spent 8 months looking. I sat/rode in modern challengers, including an R/T Charger as well. Most of them have the sun roofs (another 100lbs which is unnecessary IMO). At 6'4, my hair "brushes" along the sun roof bezel in the car, which is utterly ridiculous. I ultimately realized that even with a new Challenger, it does not solve the desire of wanting the real thing. I chose the real thing, and would never go back. BTW, many people have posted concerns about the doors/rockers being sprayed with a BUNCH of foam that attracts moisture. Lots of cases of newer Challengers already started to rust out after a few years. Many people are trying to remove the foam due to this.

The conclusion for my gripes is not really specific to FCA. It's the modern automobile. Nowadays, They all weigh nearly 4,000lbs. The Touch screen display is the ECU for the whole car. If that goes out, your car is broken, sorry (lots of reported cases of the U-Connect system not working as well as it should). The higher shoulder lines and required "B" pillars make them bulkier/bigger and reduces visibility. The notion of "simplicity" is gone. Just like how you cannot buy a a minimalistic compact 4 cylinder truck that has 4WD anymore.

If you look at the specs, the modern Challenger is a much bigger and heavier car than the Challengers of the past. They do NOT have the "coke bottle" styling. The visual design of the center body line is what creates the look, but if you focus on the lower lines, it's completely off and very "square." They are friggin' huge.