Chrysler Plans to Reduce Product Line and Dealers

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The Wall Street Journal has just reported today the following:


Chrysler Plans to Reduce Product Line and Dealers
By Neal E. Boudette
Word Count: 369

DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC is laying out plans to nearly halve the number of models in its product line and significantly reduce the number of dealers selling its cars, company officials told dealers in meetings recently.

The moves are part of a strategy to shrink the company to a level where it can generate healthy profits, people familiar with the matter said.

It's a reversal from the strategy when the auto maker was part ...

From another Source:

Last year Chrysler dropped three models, leaving it with about 30 vehicles in total in the lines sold by its Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands.

In a few years the three brands together will probably offer a total of 15 or so -- five cars, five trucks and perhaps a half-dozen sport-utility products, people who attended the meetings said."


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Chrysler to cut model lineup by half

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Chrysler to cut model lineup by half

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Project Genesis aligns customers with product portfolio, dealer network

Yesterday, Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press and his executive team completed an eight-city New Day road show, reaching approximately 3,000 of its dealer partners to discuss the company's 2008 strategy and express their commitment to product, dealers and customers; driving dealer profitability; and building franchise value. During the meetings the company introduced a new corporate initiative, Project Genesis, intended to align the needs and wants of the customer with its product portfolio and the dealer network. With the overall goal of taking care of the customer, Chrysler LLC plans to align Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge product offerings in one facility. "We started a dialogue with our National Dealer Council and continued the process by listening carefully to what our dealer partners had to say," Press said. "Here at the National Automotive Dealer Association Conference we have the opportunity to hear from more of our dealers. The results of all of this exchange will be factored in to our long-range plan. At this point, we have not made any final decisions regarding our dealer optimization or future product plans, nor has the company set any firm timelines. Our dealers are and will continue to be an integral part of this process moving forward."


AutoNation CEO supports Project Genesis

“Brilliant” and “powerful.” That's how Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, the nation’s largest dealership group, described Chrysler’s plan to right-size its product line and dealership network. The plan is called “Project Genesis.” Speaking on the CNBC program “Squawk Box” today, Jackson said “what’s brilliant and powerful is that they’ve combined their product strategy with their retail strategy.” He said he’s been waiting for years for the U.S.-based automakers to move in that direction.

LINK:The Scoop at Chrysler Group