Stellantis withdraws from Chicago Auto Show

[richk225]

Don't forget about RAM! If anything happens to the RAM or Jeep brands, It will defeat me!!

I mean, look at this sexy beast!!!

That`s one hell of a good looking truck!! How do you keep one of the hardest colors to keep clean, Clean?

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[Tncdrew]

The current interest rates shouldn't be that much of an issues. Rates like we have now were normal before the 2009 Recession hit.

What's strangling the manufactures nearly to death are the EV mandates. And every EV they are selling is at a massive loss. The major manufacturers, not being "green" don't get carbon credits. They have to buy them from companies like Tesla.

Why isn't the government mandating Tesla to make gas powered cars? (rhetorical question)

There is no way I would start any kind of business in our country right now with the convoluted series of regulatory hurdles and pitfalls that need to be navigated. And if I had a large company, I would probably want to sell it for what I could get for it.

I would not be surprised to see Stellantis selling off their North American assets in the not too distant future. Stellantis is Peugeot, who has has out of the North American market for decades and made no attempt to return.

Foreign companies who have owned Jeep; Renault, DaimlerBenz, Cerberus (Canadian), Fiat, Stellantis. With the exception of Mercedes, none of those companies have ever had any staying power in the US market. Cerberus was not a car company.

So, I think we can point to several factors all coming together to makes times especially tough for Stellantis in the US.

A rapidly weakening dollar
Regulatory overreach, i.e. EPA fuel economy standards
Impossible to meet mandates for EVs
Rising interest rates
Sharply increased labor expenses after the UAW strike
Logistic (supply chain) issues with foreign made parts, especially Chinese made parts
Quality control issues, which is saving them money on the initial build and costing them more on warranty repairs
Inflation, which ties into a weaken dollar and high interest rates
Customer apathy

Customer apathy is a problem that marketers and advertising can cure. The problem is that It's extremely difficult to produce advertising that appeals to the the core of the Jeep brand. I was reading an article a few days ago about how embedded ESG is into the production world of the advertising industry. There's now way to make a commercial right now with rugged outdoor types enjoying their Jeep in an outdoor setting.

Stellantis has stated that there will be no Super Bowl ad this year, they have pulled out of all major car shows, and I can't remember the last time I saw an actual commercial for a Stellantis product other than for Ram trucks.

Let's see what kind of lackluster offerings they have for the Easter Jeep Safari. I predict yet more attempts to get Jeep people excited about electric, and not much more.

In the case of Stellantis, customer apathy seems to have directly tied into manufacturer apathy. Stellantis right now seems like that guy at work who's productivity has slowed way down, and you know he's about to quit or get fired.

Ever read Atlas Shrugged?? ?

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Nobody who values their life goes to Chicago anymore.

I finished out high school in Hinsdale Illinois. We lived there for 4 years. I remember that it was newsworthy one night when no one was shot the whole day. I don't know if that's changed since, but when I was living there there was at least one shooting every single day in Chicago, and I mean for like 2 years straight!

The current interest rates shouldn't be that much of an issues. Rates like we have now were normal before the 2009 Recession hit.

What's strangling the manufactures nearly to death are the EV mandates. And every EV they are selling is at a massive loss. The major manufacturers, not being "green" don't get carbon credits. They have to buy them from companies like Tesla.

Why isn't the government mandating Tesla to make gas powered cars? (rhetorical question)

There is no way I would start any kind of business in our country right now with the convoluted series of regulatory hurdles and pitfalls that need to be navigated. And if I had a large company, I would probably want to sell it for what I could get for it.

I would not be surprised to see Stellantis selling off their North American assets in the not too distant future. Stellantis is Peugeot, who has has out of the North American market for decades and made no attempt to return.

Foreign companies who have owned Jeep; Renault, DaimlerBenz, Cerberus (Canadian), Fiat, Stellantis. With the exception of Mercedes, none of those companies have ever had any staying power in the US market. Cerberus was not a car company.

So, I think we can point to several factors all coming together to makes times especially tough for Stellantis in the US.

A rapidly weakening dollar
Regulatory overreach, i.e. EPA fuel economy standards
Impossible to meet mandates for EVs
Rising interest rates
Sharply increased labor expenses after the UAW strike
Logistic (supply chain) issues with foreign made parts, especially Chinese made parts
Quality control issues, which is saving them money on the initial build and costing them more on warranty repairs
Inflation, which ties into a weaken dollar and high interest rates
Customer apathy

Customer apathy is a problem that marketers and advertising can cure. The problem is that It's extremely difficult to produce advertising that appeals to the the core of the Jeep brand. I was reading an article a few days ago about how embedded ESG is into the production world of the advertising industry. There's now way to make a commercial right now with rugged outdoor types enjoying their Jeep in an outdoor setting.

Stellantis has stated that there will be no Super Bowl ad this year, they have pulled out of all major car shows, and I can't remember the last time I saw an actual commercial for a Stellantis product other than for Ram trucks.

Let's see what kind of lackluster offerings they have for the Easter Jeep Safari. I predict yet more attempts to get Jeep people excited about electric, and not much more.

In the case of Stellantis, customer apathy seems to have directly tied into manufacturer apathy. Stellantis right now seems like that guy at work who's productivity has slowed way down, and you know he's about to quit or get fired.

I agree with everything you said. Though I will say, your post also helped me realize that this thread will very quickly get a ***NO POLITICS*** title here very soon.

You did it right, but some people can't help but start getting opinionated about these things, and that's when it's all going to go downhill. ?

 

[Deleted User 38384]

That`s one hell of a good looking truck!! How do you keep one of the hardest colors to keep clean, Clean?

If the file gets corrupted, I'll just redownload it.

I wish I had $90,000 to buy a 5500! ?

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Ever read Atlas Shrugged?? ?

Yep

 

[richk225]

If the file gets corrupted, I'll just redownload it.

I wish I had $90,000 to buy a 5500! ?

Can you even get a 5500 for $90k ? You look at that truck and look at a 392 with a starting price of $94k
Two different animals but that truck is like a rolling living room

 

[The Last Cowboy]

I finished out high school in Hinsdale Illinois. We lived there for 4 years. I remember that it was newsworthy one night when no one was shot the whole day. I don't know if that's changed since, but when I was living there there was at least one shooting every single day in Chicago, and I mean for like 2 years straight!



I agree with everything you said. Though I will say, your post also helped me realize that this thread will very quickly get a ***NO POLITICS*** title here very soon.

You did it right, but some people can't help but start getting opinionated about these things, and that's when it's all going to go downhill. ?

The only thing I will say in reference to elected officials is that they are all part of the problem.

Regulatory agencies are an even bigger problem, they make regulations (de facto laws really) that are outside of the how our system was designed to function. The people have no representation in regulatory agencies.

The pendulum in the US really needs to swing back towards a free market vs a governmental regulated one. too far either way is not good, but the government has too much say in privately owned industry. On the other hand, manufacturing and heavy industry in this country are vital to national security. Without it, if we got into a major conflict/war, we would be scrambling for years just to get factories up and running to product war supplies. So, industry and government need to have a cordial relationship vs an adversarial one.

Although such relationships are politically influenced, the effort to properly maintain that balance and to keep both parties happy is a problem and challenge that transcends politics.

 

[Heimkehr]

To be honest, not sure there is anything in the Chrysler camp other than Jeep that I would EVER buy.

I'll concede to being impressed with much about the "Ram" (but for the farcical name.) My father owns a 3500 Cummins Mega Cab 4x4, equipped with most of the available trimmings. Think of a bodybuilder wearing a tuxedo. It's well and truly luxurious, and capable of pulling a house.

The second-row seating in that truck is particularly notable. At 6'4", I'm able to stretch out with room to spare. That just doesn't happen anywhere else.

The Jeep offerings are a joke right now for the Rubicon model between the base and the X. You can either buy and under equipped base model at an exorbitant price or buy and over equipped model at and extra exorbitant price.

Agree about the pricing, but there's nothing "base" about the Rubicon.

 

[JLeco2022]

The only thing I will say in reference to elected officials is that they are all part of the problem.

Regulatory agencies are an even bigger problem, they make regulations (de facto laws really) that are outside of the how our system was designed to function. The people have no representation in regulatory agencies.

The pendulum in the US really needs to swing back towards a free market vs a governmental regulated one. too far either way is not good, but the government has too much say in privately owned industry. On the other hand, manufacturing and heavy industry in this country are vital to national security. Without it, if we got into a major conflict/war, we would be scrambling for years just to get factories up and running to product war supplies. So, industry and government need to have a cordial relationship vs an adversarial one.

Although such relationships are politically influenced, the effort to properly maintain that balance and to keep both parties happy is a problem and challenge that transcends politics.

the problem is and always has been and always will be, elected officials are picked the same way high school prom king/queen. off zero merit and all emotions, sooner or later the ride or die party people will catch on or it will go this way until the end

 

[DWS44]

Don't forget about RAM! If anything happens to the RAM or Jeep brands, It will defeat me!!

I mean, look at this sexy beast!!!

Just imagine all the advancements you could destroy on one of those! ?

 

[DWS44]

There's a couple of articles out there, I think one from something like moparinsider or whatever, saying they are cutting back on all NA auto shows - made it sound like they won't be in many, if any at all.

I was surprised how spartan the Jeep display was at the Charlotte Auto Show last month. The didn't have a single Wrangler on display and only one white Gladiator that was locked so nobody could even open or sit in it. With that poor a display, they may as well have not been there at all.

 

[Shibadog]

When the decision was made to move Jeep “upscale” it screwed the brand. Jeeps are now too soft for the hardcore folks and too hard for the Luxury SUV folks. Rubicon “should” be the axles, lockers and gears package and an option on the BASE sport ( and all other trims up to the Sahara.). Instead, it’s the “luxury” Jeep Chuck full of all the bells and whistles. Accordingly there are no “cheap” rubicons for the guy who actually uses those features, while the malls are full of “Rubicons” that’ll never see a dirt road. It’s been all about getting the highest profits for the minimal investment. Methinks we’re seeing the results of that strategy today with overpriced, bloated rigs sitting on the dealer lots?

 

[Heimkehr]

I've said before that the Wrangler should be sold with just two model designations: The Wrangler, and the Wrangler Rubicon.

The latter should retain all of the hard parts that've made that particular trim unique (and uniquely useful off road) since it's introduction. Only the inclusion of those hard parts that directly support the Rubicon's mission brief should be standard fitments. On that point, it wouldn't kill Stellantis to add the steel bumper and even a winch to that feature list, given the Rube's high cost of entry.

The Wrangler would essentially be a Sport, on which the buyer can selectively add any and all a la carte options that he desires. He wouldn't be forced to purchase an upmarket trim designation simply to gain access to certain options, like the SOT sunroof, as he's presently compelled to do.

That's it. If we're expected to pay a King's ransom for these things, give us full control over the ransom.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

When the decision was made to move Jeep “upscale” it screwed the brand. Jeeps are now too soft for the hardcore folks and too hard for the Luxury SUV folks. Rubicon “should” be the axles, lockers and gears package and an option on the BASE sport ( and all other trims up to the Sahara.). Instead, it’s the “luxury” Jeep Chuck full of all the bells and whistles. Accordingly there are no “cheap” rubicons for the guy who actually uses those features, while the malls are full of “Rubicons” that’ll never see a dirt road. It’s been all about getting the highest profits for the minimal investment. Methinks we’re seeing the results of that strategy today with overpriced, bloated rigs sitting on the dealer lots?

I always considered the Sahara, fully loaded, to be the luxury daily driver Jeep. To me it's akin to the Overland Gladiator (being sunsetted) in that it was comfy, a great ride, perfect for a DD but could still keep up with most off the road.
When looking for a purple JLU for my wife, it was Rubicon that was about it for matching the equipment we wanted. Nothing else close. But in the end because that color was made when it was, she had to do without some of the options she really wanted. She'll never use the lockers.

 

[Shibadog]

I always considered the Sahara, fully loaded, to be the luxury daily driver Jeep. To me it's akin to the Overland Gladiator (being sunsetted) in that it was comfy, a great ride, perfect for a DD but could still keep up with most off the road.
When looking for a purple JLU for my wife, it was Rubicon that was about it for matching the equipment we wanted. Nothing else close. But in the end because that color was made when it was, she had to do without some of the options she really wanted. She'll never use the lockers.

And that’s the point lots of folks paying for stuff they’ll never use just to be able to get some of the stuff they actually want. Meanwhile folks who’d like options can’t get them without buying all the junk they don’t want. I think Jeep has tried to make the Rubicon into a Gwagon (and charge accordingly).

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