Chrysler

Chrysler announces "No Payment for 90 Days" program through Ally Financial

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:39:01 GMT

Chrysler announces "No Payment for 90 Days" program through Ally Financial

If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting to pick up a new Chrysler product, now may be the time to stand up and bring your wallet down to the nearest dealership. Chrysler has fired up a new incentive program that will leave a bit of money in your bank account for the first three months of your new-car ownership period. It's called (imaginatively enough) No Payments for 90 Days, and the program applies to all 2011 and 2012 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Truck vehicles.

Chrysler has a few other incentives up its sleeve, including cash back on certain 2012 models and low financing rates on the 2011 vehicles still on the lots. A 2012 Dodge Avenger or Chrysler 200 will net you $500 cash, while a Jeep Liberty will get you $1,000 and a Ram Truck will put $1,500 back in your wallet. Still prefer a 2011? You might be able to qualify for a three-year loan with zero interest, or receive $2,000 cash back on the 2011 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.

Of course, there's a tiny catch. The No Payments for 90 Days program is only being offered for shoppers that opt to pursue financing through Ally Financial.

[Source: Detroit News – Autoblog ]

Video: Chrysler and Eminem team up for 'Imported from Detroit' charity effort

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:23:45 GMT

Video: Chrysler and Eminem team up for 'Imported from Detroit' charity effort

PRESS RELEASE

Chrysler Brand and Eight Mile Style LLC Release Gospel Version of 'Lose Yourself' from 'Selected of God' Choir

'Lose Yourself,' performed by 'Selected of God' choir, available for download on iTunes; Eight Mile Style to donate 100 percent of publishing proceeds to three local Detroit charities

Chrysler and Eight Mile Style launch the 'Imported from Detroit Project'

August 2, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Brand and Eight Mile Style LLC, a Detroit-based publisher of Eminem compositions, have partnered to release a gospel version of "Lose Yourself," available now for download on iTunes. The song is performed by "Selected of God," the choir featured in the Chrysler brand Super Bowl commercial "Born of Fire." Keeping in the spirit of the "Imported from Detroit" campaign, Eight Mile Style will donate all publishing proceeds from the music download to three local Detroit charities – Abayomi Community Development Corporation, The Yuinon and the Robert S. Shumake Foundation.

The song can be downloaded directly from iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lose-yourself-single/id453175291) for 99 cents. An accompanying music video, not available for download, can be viewed on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg4lSGGOfzE). The music video was produced by the Chrysler brand and filmed throughout Detroit.

"The Chrysler brand is firm in its commitment to the City of Detroit and we would like to continue to extend the generosity and goodwill generated from the Imported from Detroit campaign launched during this year's Super Bowl," said Olivier Francois – Chrysler Brand President and CEO and Lead Executive for Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC. "This new rendition of Lose Yourself is very moving, it is meant to inspire the listener from within and it perfectly captures the emotion felt in the Born of Fire commercial."

"Eight Mile Style is honored to be part of this project that gives back to the City of Detroit," said Jeff Bass, Principal of Eight Mile Style LLC. "By using the 'Selected of God' choir as its ambassadors, the 'Imported from Detroit' movement now has more meaning than ever – never give up, always give back."

In keeping with the spirit of the Imported from Detroit campaign, Eight Mile Style will donate 100 percent of all publishing proceeds from each song download to three charities:
Abayomi Community Development Corporation – www.abayomicdc.org
The Yuinon – www.yumentor.com
Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Foundation – www.shumakerelays.com

Imported from Detroit Project

Chrysler Brand and Eight Mile Style have also announced the launch of the "Imported from Detroit Project" (IFD). The IFD Project is a website created to highlight events and activities that promote the City of Detroit. The website will be updated regularly and will incorporate social media elements such as Twitter (www.Twitter.com/IFDProject) and Facebook (www.Facebook.com/IFDProject). For more information, visit www.IFDProject.com.

Born of Fire

"Born of Fire" debuted at the 2011 Super Bowl and was designed to generate a conversation about the Chrysler brand and the new 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan. The two-minute commercial, which was also a Super Bowl first, ignited a spark throughout the United States, as many felt a connection to the attitude and work ethic portrayed in the scenes and narration. The spot reflects where the brand is headed and pays tribute to its industrial roots. While the commercial focused on Detroit, in many ways, it encapsulated the spirit of the country and the comeback of the Chrysler brand and Chrysler Group.

The Chrysler brand chose the song, "Lose Yourself," because the lyrics speak to the ability to do anything we set our mind to do. The Chrysler brand, the company and its employees have adopted the principle that failure is not an option.

Born of Fire also revealed the tagline for the brand, "Imported from Detroit," created to convey the message that one does not have to cross an ocean to obtain luxury – it's available right here and evident in the Chrysler brand product lineup.

About Abayomi Community Development Corporation (www.abayomicdc.org)

The Abayomi Community Development Corporation ("Abayomi", a term from the Yoruba tribe in West Africa which means "a pleasant meeting place", pronounced a-ba-yo-mee), is a 501(c)(3) human services nonprofit organization serving the metropolitan Detroit area. Abayomi has provided community & economic development, education, and recreation programs to over 8,000 youth and families in the far Northwest and metropolitan Detroit area for over 10 years. Our goals are to establish an awareness of the value of family, improve socioeconomic conditions and increase the level of dignity and personal achievement within the Detroit community.

About The Yuinon ( www.yumentor.com)

The Yuinon (pronounced "union") Inc. is an innovative, faith-based, holistic youth development organization founded in Detroit in 2003. Our youth development philosophy is rooted in relationship. More so than a program, a lasting relationship by a caring adult with a youth has proven to be the most effective way to truly encourage and support them. This approach has enabled us to maintain contact with youth that we have engaged in various capacities including: prevention programs, conferences, seminars, youth groups, and recreational outreach. We have provided such services for thousands of youth since our inception through partnerships with schools, community groups, juvenile detention centers, and churches. We are excited that we can now count the U.S. Department of Education as a partner willing to be a resource that enables us to support three hundred 4th-8th graders in Detroit with mentors who will help give them a foundation for success!

About Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Foundation (www.shumakerelays.com)

The Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays is a premier class A track and field competition for high school students across the nation. Its unique model is unprecedented in that it has a dual focus. The Shumake Scholarship Relay competition highlights both athletic ability and academic achievement. Prizes are awarded to the athlete on each team with the highest grade point average, teams with the highest score at the end of the meet and athletes who place 1st through 8th. Since 2005, over 2,000 athletes (boys and girls) representing over 65 teams participated in this track and field event. This year an estimated 80 teams will participate with over 2,500 athletes.

About Selected of God Choir

Larry Callahan and Selected of God is a community-based choir affiliated with Praise Tabernacle in Grosse Pointe, Mich. In October 2008, Selected of God became an award winning choir by being named the Best Small Choir in the Detroit Region at the How Sweet the Sound Competition. Their travels include churches and concert halls across the Midwest and South, numerous churches and venues in their home city, Detroit.

About Chrysler Brand

The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, groundbreaking technology, craftsmanship and intuitive innovation – all at an extraordinary value – since the company was founded in 1925.

The Chrysler brand continues that tradition in 2011 with a rejuvenated, stylish, well-crafted product lineup. Every 2011 vehicle the brand sells is all-new or significantly redesigned and engineered from the ground up. This succession of innovative product introductions propels the brand's standing as the leader in design, engineering and value. "Design with purpose" puts the premium for the Chrysler brand in the product, not the price.

The new Chrysler Town & Country minivan, the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2010, leads the way with a new powertrain offering best-in-class horsepower; an all-new, exquisitely crafted interior that includes improved Stow 'n Go® seating; an updated, elegant exterior design and over 40 standard safety and technology features on every model, including SafetyTec which includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, ParkSense® rear park assist, ParkView® rear back-up camera, rain-sensing wipers and SmartBeam headlamps. The Chrysler Town & Country minivan has won the R.L. Polk Loyalty award an unprecedented 10 times in-a-row.

The new 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan and Convertible offer elegant styling within a vehicle segment often noted for its "sea of sameness." A stylish new exterior and all-new interior will wow consumers with its craftsmanship, high-quality materials and understated elegance. The new powertrain and major suspension overhaul provides a confident, spirited driving experience. Every safety feature is standard on the 200 sedan and 200 Convertible, and all models are packed with standard features at a price that offers customers a remarkable value.

With its elegant proportions and head-turning style, the all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 takes the "most award-winning new car ever" to new heights – combining the best of the nameplate's 56-year history with world-class craftsmanship, execution and upscale materials. Unmistakable proportions with added design, refinement and a more tailored appearance provides the all-new Chrysler 300 sedans with distinctive styling. By combining world-class accommodations with American style, the all-new Chrysler 300's interior features an expressive and elegant design with authentic materials, passenger comfort features and precise fit and finish. The 2011 Chrysler 300 sedans deliver grand-touring performance and world-class handling with efficient powertrains and new second-generation E-segment chassis architecture. Customers will feel connected, comfortable and secure with state-of-the-art connectivity, infotainment and more than 70 safety and security features. The iconic vehicle of the Chrysler brand sets the new standard for American sedans.

Chrysler Auto Workers Again Smoking and Drinking During Lunch Breaks

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:38:15 GMT

Smoking and Drinking During Lunch Breaks

If this story sounds familiar to you, it's because something very similar happened just ten months ago. Chrysler employees at the Jefferson North Plant in Detroit were busted for drinking beer during their lunch breaks, and the automaker subsequently fired 13 of the workers involved.

Now, the same behavior has been observed at Chrysler's Trenton Engine Plant. The news crew at FOX 2 Detroit investigated many tips sent in from workers at the Trenton, MI plant, citing that employees were spending their lunch breaks drinking and smoking (and we aren't talking about cigarettes) at a nearby park.

When FOX 2 showed the investigation to Chrysler, Scott Garberding, the automaker's Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, said that he was "both hurt and angered" over what the cameras captured, adding:

"The employees that we identify, as soon as we understand who they are, will be suspended indefinitely without pay and anybody else involved will be dealt with swiftly. It's very frustrating to us, we take it very seriously."

Chrysler Auto Workers in Trenton Caught Smoking and Drinking During Lunch Breaks: MyFoxDETROIT.com

Chrysler Auto Workers in Trenton Caught Smoking and Drinking During Lunch Break

[ Source: AutoBlog WJBK Fox 2 ]

RECALL: Chrysler recalls 243,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:12:32 GMT

RECALL: Chrysler recalls 243,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Chrysler Group will recall more than 243,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks because of potential problems with tie rod assemblies that may increase the risk of a crash, the automaker and U.S. safety regulators said.

To be recalled are 2008-2011 Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4 models, 2008-2011 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis 4x2 models, 2008 Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 models, and 2003-2008 Ram 2500 and 3500 models, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About 243,000 of the recalled trucks are in the United States. Of those, about 74,000 have already received service on the tie rod assembly, the NHTSA filing said.

Also, about 35,000 pickups in Canada will be recalled as well as some 2,750 in Mexico and 5,700 in other countries.

A Chrysler spokesman said there have been a few crashes and at least one minor injury as a result of the issue.The trucks "may experience a fracture of the left tie rod stud,"

Chrysler told NHTSA. "This condition tends to occur during low speed parking lot type maneuvers when the (driver) is making a left turn."

This may result in the "loss of directional stability" in the left front wheel, increasing the risk of a crash, Chrysler said.

Chrysler said that the risk is highest when making a sharp, 90-degree turn.

The automaker has not yet determined when customers will receive letters alerting them to the recall.

Chrysler fails to enforce "Imported from Detroit" phrase

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:19:11 GMT

Chrysler fails to enforce "Imported from Detroit" phrase

DETROIT -- A federal judge today denied a motion by Chrysler Group LLC to bar use of its "Imported from Detroit" commercial tag line by clothier Pure Detroit, which in turn has formally opposed Chrysler's bid to trademark the phrase.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow ruled that Chrysler's request didn't show that it would suffer irreparable harm or that it had a strong likelihood of winning its case. That means Pure Detroit's owner, Detroit retailer Moda Group LLC, can continue selling its "Imported from Detroit" products.

Tarnow also noted that Chrysler doesn't have a trademark on "Imported from Detroit" and rejected the automaker's argument that trademark law isn't applicable to the case.

In March, Chrysler sued Pure Detroit and its owners over sales of T-shirts using the phrase immediately after the automaker's Feb. 6 TV commercial launch during Super Bowl XLV.

Pure Detroit countersued in April, claiming the automaker doesn't have a valid trademark because the phrase is geographical, descriptive and arguably misleading -- Chrysler is based in Auburn Hills and the centerpiece Chrysler 200 from the advertising campaign is assembled in Sterling Heights.

Moda filed letters of protest in April against all three of Chrysler's trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for varying uses of the phrase. The company is represented by suburban Detroit law firm Dobrusin & Thennisch PC.

Michael Palese, a Chrysler spokesman, said the automaker "will continue to pursue all avenues to protect our 'Imported From Detroit' trademark."

[ SOUREC: Automotive News ]

Fiat now has 52% ownership stake in Chrysler LLC

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:25:59 GMT

Fiat now has 52% ownership stake in Chrysler LLC

Fiat Auto has officially agreed to buy the U.S. Treasury's remaining 6% interest in Chrysler, boosting Fiat's ownership stake to 52%. That deal has been in the wind, but was finalized only late Thursday, the Associated Press reports.

AP says Fiat will pay $500 million for all of Treasury's Chrysler holdings. The deal must pass muster with U.S. regulators, which could take as long as three months, though an OK is expected sooner, according to the AP report.

The government is expected to lose about $1.3 billion on its bailout loans to Chrysler once the Fiat deal concludes.

"This is a monumental achievement for both the U.S. government and Chrysler," says Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends and analysis at TrueCar.com. "Just 23 months ago, we were unsure if Chrysler was going to be able to survive.

"Fiat is a powerhouse and has a great track record across the globe," Toprak says.

Fiat got management control of Chrysler and a minority stake as part of Chrysler's bankruptcy reorganization in 2009. In return, Fiat promised to share its small-car expertise with Chrysler, giving the U.S. automaker a line of fuel-efficient models it has lacked.

Fiat launched its 500 minicar in the U.S. in March, sold from separate showrooms, called "studios," by hand-picked Chrysler dealers and a few outsiders. The Italian maker will use that beginning to bring more Fiat and Alfa-Romeo cars to the U.S.

Chrysler will sell some Fiat-designed, Chrysler-built small cars at Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealerships, though it won't have a Chrysler venison of the Fiat 500.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, who became Chrysler CEO as part of the bankruptcy deal, pushed Chrysler to quicken planned upgrades to its models, beginning with the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee. That vehicle has been a big success among critics and buyers. Grand Cherokee sales this year through May were up 192.2% from the year-ago period, according to sales-tracker Autodata.

The entire Jeep lineup has been tweaked under Fiat's control and Jeep sales are up 55% through May, in a market up 14%, Autodata says.

More details from the AP story, including how the $1.3 billion U.S. loss is figured:

"The U.S. government ultimately will lose around $1.3 billion in the deal. The government authorized $12.5 billion in loans for Chrysler from the end of 2008 through Chrysler's bankruptcy filing in the summer of 2009. The Treasury Department said Thursday that Chrysler has repaid $11.2 billion - including $2 billion in undrawn loans - but it is unlikely to recover the rest.

"Government officials have long said that they didn't expect to recover the full amount they loaned to Chrysler and General Motors during the auto industry downturn, and that their top priority was saving thousands of auto jobs.

"'We didn't do this to maximize return. We did it to save jobs,' Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said during a trip to Detroit in April.

"On Thursday, Geithner noted that GM and Chrysler are hiring again and making new investments at U.S. plants, which wouldn't have happened had they gone bankrupt.

"Fiat also agreed to pay $75 million for the right to purchase the Chrysler shares held by a trust for retired autoworkers. The Treasury Department will receive 80% of those proceeds, or $60 million, while the government of Canada will get $15 million. The trust holds a 47.5% stake in the company. It is expected to sell its shares when Chrysler eventually holds an initial public offering, which could happen later this year or early next year."

[ Source: USAToday ]

Fiat increase Chrysler ownership to 30 percent

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:03:18 GMT

Fiat increase Chrysler ownership to 30 percent

Last week ,we told you that Fiat had plans to increase its stake in Chrysler within the next couple of weeks, and the automaker is apparently running ahead of schedule. The Detroit News reports that the Italian concern has officially purchased an additional five percent of the Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker, bringing the total to 30 percent. It's the second ownership increase for Fiat in 2011, as the automaker only announced that it was increasing its stake to 25 percent in January.

The second five percent comes after met a condition stipulating that Fiat sell a Chrysler product in 90 percent of dealerships in Brazil while also achieving $1.5 billion in revenue outside of North America. The automaker reportedly struggled to reach an agreement with dealers in Brazil to sell Chrysler-badged vehicles, so a second stipulation was rewritten to account for Chrysler vehicles re-badged as a Fiat. That vehicle is the Fiat Freemont shown above, which is essentially a Dodge Journey with a Fiat badge.

The Detroit News says Fiat likely won't hit its final bogey of achieving 35 percent ownership until the fourth quarter, when a Fiat-based Dodge hits the market. That vehicle will need to hit 40 miles per gallon in highway driving, which suggests the vehicle may be based on the Fiat 500.

Source: [ The Detroit News, Autoblog.com ]

Fiat increasing Chrysler stake to 51 percent ahead of IPO

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:00:57 GMT

Fiat increasing Chrysler stake to 51 percent ahead of IPO

Looks like Fiat may be looking to increase its stake in Chrysler from 20 percent to 51 percent before the Pentastar goes public. If true, that would mean that Fiat intends to repay Chrysler's federal loans before their 2013 due date. Doing so would allow the Italian automaker to sink its teeth into its American property by an additional 16 percent.

Sergio Marchionne, who serves as the CEO of both Fiat and Chrysler, said that while he doesn't know for certain whether he would move to have Fiat take over a larger portion of Chrysler, it is a possibility. The executive said that such a move would provide plenty of benefits for both automakers.

Fiat itself has been undergoing fairly substantial changes outside of its tie-up with Chrysler. The company just split into two different operations, with its automotive efforts flying under one banner and its industrial work sailing under another.

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:14:35 GMT

Chrysler Readies To Launch New Vehicles With Marketing Campaign

Chrysler dealers upset that Fiat SpA parent company hasn’t launched a large advertising campaign
Fiat says they’re waiting to launch a marketing campaign to coincide with redesigned vehicles
Look for the new campaign – plus the new vehicles – to come out later this year

Remember Chrysler? You know, the number three in the “Big Three”? Many of Chrysler’s few remaining dealers have grown weary over the last several months frustrated with Chrysler’s slow attempt to jump back into the marketing game.
These dealers have watched General Motors (GM) come back from the same brink of bankruptcy by watching advertisement after advertisement on television. Chrysler’s dealers are left to ask what’s going on with their company’s strategy?

Help may be coming soon in the form of a new, multi-million dollar advertising blitz.

Although the company was close to shuttering its doors until the owner of Fiat SpA bought Chrysler Group LLC last year, demand for Chrysler vehicles has remaining steady on car Lease Specials website LeaseTrader.com. The company has even reported brisk sales at the retail level.

But dealers have grown frustrated with Chrysler’s lack of advertising and now feel the company isn’t helping with critical foot traffic into the showroom.

For its part, Chrysler Group LLC’s new CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has previously stated an unwillingness to roll out an expensive marketing campaign until the launch of several redesigned vehicle models.

But all that seems to be changing.

Scheduled to launch later this year, the new Chrysler ads will feature the updated versions of the Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 and other sedans.
A newly redesigned Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle will also make an appearance, as well as the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
Sergio Marchionne has said it is useless to spend lots of money on an advertising campaign that simply says “We are back.” He feels people already know the company is back.
Because Chrysler is now part of the Fiat SpA group, the television ads will also feature the Fiat 500 subcompact sports car. Remember one key element that attracted Fiat to buy Chrysler was the ability to gain entry into the U.S. market for its Fiat lineup, which didn’t leave a lasting impression back in the 1980s.

Chrysler vehicle leases are widely available on LeaseTrader.com, the car leasing website that matches a person wanting out of a Lease Specials with an individual looking to take it over.

Recall – Chrysler - Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks

David Walker, LeaseTrader.com — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:32:08 GMT

Recall – Chrysler - Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks

Today Chrysler has voluntarily recalled over 186,000 diesel powered Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks. Model Year 2007 through 2009

This recall includes all trucks equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines that falsely illuminate the check engine warning under certain conditions, causing the engine to produce large amount of soot that could possibly damage the turbocharger, exhaust gas recirculation valve and diesel particulate filter and result in increased emissions.

To solve this issue, dealers will update the engine control module firmware. The upload and diagnostic could take about an hour to complete.

Special Note for California Residents

We have been told by sources at Pickuptrucks.com., you will be unable to renew your registration of your Dodge Ram pickup truck equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engines in California if you don't get the recall repaired. The Department of Motor Vehicles will require proof of the repair prior to renew of your registration.