Business as usual – Chrysler Australia
May 1, 2009 by David Twomey
It’s business as usual at Chrysler Australia after Chrysler LLC overnight announced a proposed strategic alliance with Fiat SpA and filed for protected restructuring, under Chapter 11 of the United States bankruptcy provisions, as part on-going organisational changes.
Chrysler Australia spokesman, Jerry Stamoulis, says international operations are not part of any bankruptcy filing, including Australia and New Zealand.
Chrysler Australia will continue to provide quality motor vehicles, parts and services to Australian consumers under the Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Mopar parts brands through the current network of dedicated and professional authorised dealers.
“Australian customers can rest assured that it’s business as usual for Chrysler Australia. We are a solid, profitable business and here to stay” assured Gerry Jenkins, Managing Director, Chrysler Australia.
“Despite the global economic challenges and the downturn in vehicle sales in most countries, we are one of the top international markets for Chrysler, and are the leading right-hand drive market in the world” added Mr Jenkins.
The global strategic alliance announced with Fiat SpA will form a new company that allows both Chrysler and Fiat to fully optimise their respective manufacturing footprints and the global supplier base, while providing each with access to additional markets, he said.
Fiat drivetrains and components will also be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites. In the future, the advantages of the new company will provide exciting new motoring options for Australian consumers.
“Locally, we don’t expect to see any impact from the Chapter 11 proceedings,” Mr Jenkins explained.
“The term ‘bankruptcy’ means different things from country to country, and it’s important to understand that this Chapter 11 filing does not mean Chrysler is going to disappear. Rather, it is a positive step forward in the on-going improvement of the Chrysler organisation.”
“After months of speculation, the path forward for our parent company is now clear. A new company will emerge in just 30 – 60 days that is lean and well-structured to meet the current and future demands of our customers in Australia and New Zealand” declared Mr Jenkins.
“I’m very excited about the opportunities provided by the strategic alliance with Fiat and the other changes within our business. I’ve been with Chrysler for 30 of its 80-year history, and the future has never looked brighter” Mr Jenkins added.
Print it: 
Good luck with that.
Business as usual; except that no-one in their right mind would buy a car from Chrysler Australia in the current circumstances.
No-one in their right mind would buy a car from Chrysler.
If Dodge-Chrysler want to try and start to things around – they should get rid off the 300C or the Sebring or the Avenger or the Calibre or the Nitro….and put the 200C [concept] into production.
Its better looking for a start – infact it looks a lot like the Opel Insignia.
They should also export the Challenger – They would sell loads of them here a lot more than they have of any other Dodge-Chrysler
“..I’ve been with Chrysler for 30 of its 80-year history, and the future has never looked brighter” Mr Jenkins added.
Wow, that must’ve been 30 agonising, excruciating, pain filled depressing years if this is the best future he’s seen..
Doesn’t say much for Chrysler does it?
No wonder they went broke, and who’d buy one now…?
Poor bloke, 30 years of pain, he’s wasted his life….
“The leading right-hand drive market in the world”. Well golly, that’s not hard. I guess if Chryslers had reasonable fuel economy the Brits would buy more, and if they were reasonably priced and built you might get some takers in South Africa and India.
“Chrysler Australia will continue to provide quality motor vehicles…”
Quality, ummm… what?
I drove a Sebring once in Canada, I drove it across half their country and back again. When I handed it back to the hire company I wondered how Chrysler could be in business and make such rubbish. It seems now I have my answer. The automotive world would be better off without them.
For the knockers out there, the Chrysler 300C CRDI isn’t that bad. At the very least, Chrysler has embraced six-cylinder turbo diesel technology, unlike Holden and Ford, who should be the ones that should be shut down.
Damian,
The ONLY reason the CRDI engine in the Chrysler 300C is good is because this is a Mercedes-benz diesel. Damlier provided them with this technology as part of the now defunct alliance. The rest of the car is shall we say, very outdated. P.S. It handles and drives like a boat.
I was sorta hoping they’d wind up Chrysler so I woudn’t have to see the 300c or the PT cruiser anymore.
Yes Buck! Totally agree with you. I have the exact same thoughts.
Damian, you must have got the message by now. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in the DNA of Chrysler that is any good apart from what was left behind by Daimler-Benz. And even that was 5 years old when Chrysler got access to it.
This outfit is overdue for the scrapheap.
i just got the top of the range jeep cherokee ltd for less than 40k and i love it, it stands above the boring 4×4 crowd, got all the features i needed, can’t ask for more, don’t mind the thirst (getting 12.8 ltr/100 kms at the moment) I just want to be different
“The ONLY reason the CRDI engine in the Chrysler 300C is good is because this is a Mercedes-benz diesel.”
Granted, but nonetheless, the inclusion of the Mercedes CRDI engine in the 300C lineup just highlights the ineptness of our local car industry. Instead of embracing turbo-diesel technology, Holden and Ford still have their heads buried in the sand and continue to produce fuel guzzling dinosaurs.
“There is nothing, absolutely nothing in the DNA of Chrysler that is any good apart from what was left behind by Daimler-Benz. And even that was 5 years old when Chrysler got access to it.”
I do understand where you’re coming from, however, when one takes into consideration the fact that Holden is still using a 4-speed auto in the base model Commodore, Chrysler’s adoption of “outdated” Mercedes technology suddenly becomes forgivable.
And before anyone jumps on the bandwagon to defend the likes of Holden and Ford, I am merely trying to justify my thoughts on why I think Chrysler could still survive in Australia. When your average ignorant and insular Australian consumer thinks that Holden makes world class cars, a 300C must feel like a friggin Bentley.
So, will the Sebring be available for $10000?
Damien, are you aware that Holden and Ford are working on their diesel plans right now?
We should see diesel powered Falcons, Territories and Commodores in about 1 year.
“Damien, are you aware that Holden and Ford are working on their diesel plans right now?”
Yes, I am well aware of Ford and Holden’s upcoming diesel projects. Sadly, such developments are just a knee jerk reaction to tough times, and further illustrates my point that our local manufacturers are way behind the eight ball.
Not that long ago, Ford was sprouting bullsh*t rhetoric about LPG being more viable than diesel. If this was the case, there wouldn’t be a diesel Territory and Falcon in the pipeline.
“we should see diesel powered falcodores..” WTF? a year from now? wow, I’m amazed, they’re so far ahead of the rest of the world! I wonder when those slow pokes in Europe and Japan will catch up with this amazing discovery of “diesel” OI OI OI !!!!
Damian,
The Falcon isn’t a global product, yes the Commodore is sold in other countries, but many of those do not have a large diesel demand. Obviously it is going to take time to get a diesel ready. Just because Chrysler made good use out of the Mercedes parts bin, doesn’t mean they are a more advanced car company. If it wasn’t for Mercedes, Chrysler would have been gone a long time ago.
Dniski
How different will you feel when you take a number and line up with everyone else at your Jeep dealer waiting for your warranty repairs??
Damian
“Holden and Ford still have their heads buried in the sand and continue to produce fuel guzzling dinosaurs.” I agree with you about Holden, the Commodore is disgracefully outdated allready and the 4 speed auto is a hideous joke on the Australian public. However, the Falcon cannot fairly be labelled as fuel guzzling, it uses less fuel than Camry!
Also, the 300C, which I think looks very very good, is built off the Mercedes Benz E Class platform.
millatime
i dont care, ive got 2 other cars, a dodge caliber i had for the last 3 years which is still magnificent and had no problems not even a single one, and a suzuki Liana GS hatch (also a rare car) that has been with me for the last six years which has been problem free as well (only brake pads and tyres were replaced), again I just wanna be different, if it’s broken i’ll have it fixed
“Chrysler Australia will continue to provide quality motor vehicles…”
When did they ever start?