Chrysler changes course, elects to inspect, modify older Jeep SUVs in U.S.

June 19, 2013 06:01 CET
Chrysler Group, saying it has settled a dispute with U.S. federal safety regulators, will inspect older-model Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty SUVs and install a trailer hitch assembly if necessary to “better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts.”... Read More »

 

Chrysler changes course, elects to inspect, modify older Jeep SUVs

2:22 pm U.S. ET | June 18, 2013
Chrysler Group, saying it's settled a dispute with federal safety regulators, will inspect older-model Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty SUVs and install a trailer hitch assembly if necessary to “better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts.”... Read More »

 

LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE

So who won the Chrysler-NHTSA recall fight?

6:01 pm U.S. ET | June 18, 2013
Now that Chrysler Group has agreed to inspect and modify as many as 1.56 million older-model Jeep SUVs at the request of federal regulators, one inevitable question remains. Who won?... Read More »

 

Those nonrecalled Jeeps are too old to move wholesale prices

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 17, 2013
The vehicles are just too old. That's why the dispute between Chrysler Group and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over whether to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Jeep Libertys is having no impact on the wholesale prices of those vehicles, dealers and used-vehicle price experts say.... Read More »

 

Chrysler launches nationwide ad blitz for SRT brand

3:37 pm U.S. ET | June 14, 2013
Chrysler Group, aiming to burnish its credentials with auto enthusiasts, is launching the first nationwide advertising for its SRT performance brand.... Read More »

 

Jeep Cherokee pricing to start at $23,990

4:05 pm U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
Pricing on the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee SUV will start at $23,990, including $995 for shipping, Chrysler Group announced today. The starting price for the Cherokee is $300 lower than that of the 2012 Liberty, but shipping was $895 on that model, which was discontinued in August.... Read More »

 

CHRYSLER'S 'NO' TO NHTSA

At the center of the Chrysler recall drama, a familiar name: Ditlow

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
Years before Chrysler stunned the auto industry by refusing to recall 2.7 million Jeep vehicles deemed unsafe by regulators, the company was fending off complaints from an old adversary: Clarence Ditlow.... Read More »

 

Wei: Jeep's about to hit Great Wall

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
Jeep is the world's best-selling SUV brand, but Chinese billionaire Wei Jianjun says that's going to change. He has set a target for Great Wall Motor Co.'s Haval brand to take over the top spot in three to four years.... Read More »

 

Chrysler's high-stakes 'no' to NHTSA

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
For 17 years, automakers have complied with every request for a recall, no matter how costly, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And then last week, in a startling decision, Chrysler Group said no. It refused a request from NHTSA to recall 2.7 million 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-07 Libertys for an alleged fire risk caused by fuel tanks mounted behind the rear axle. Chrysler's "no" was a high-risk answer and one that came directly from CEO Sergio Marchionne.... Read More »

 

CHRYSLER'S 'NO' TO NHTSA

What to change? No easy answers for this one

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
Nobody claims to have a foolproof modification to eliminate the alleged fire safety risk in 2.7 million 1993-2007 Jeeps that have put Chrysler Group at odds with the NHTSA. And each approach to the alleged problem has its shortcomings.... Read More »

 

EDITORIAL

Chrysler-NHTSA dispute could shake industry

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
The industry faces a potential dilemma now that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called for Chrysler to recall as many as 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs to address safety problems NHTSA says can cause fires in rear-end accidents.... Read More »

 

KEITH CRAIN

Chrysler's playing a high-stakes game

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
Chrysler is in a high-stakes poker game with the federal government. It is a game the government hasn't lost very often, so the odds favor the government.... Read More »

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A positive side to a Jeep recall?

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 10, 2013
This is in response to "Chrysler's line in the sand" (AutoNews Now, June 5) about Chrysler's rejecting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's request for a recall of 2.7 million Jeeps.... Read More »

 

Marchionne says Fiat could look for new China partner for Jeep

June 9, 2013 06:01 CET
Fiat could look for a new China partner to help it manufacture Chrysler's Jeep brand in the world's largest car market in 2014, said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.... Read More »

 

LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE

So NHTSA, where's the old Cherokee?

5:11 pm U.S. ET | June 7, 2013
Several of my colleagues and I have spent most of this week researching, writing and talking about Chrysler Group's decision to fight the recall of the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-07 Jeep Liberty.... Read More »

 

Chrysler refusal on Jeeps sets challenge of U.S. recall power

9:52 am U.S. ET | June 7, 2013
The federal government’s power to force automakers to fix vehicles could be hindered if Chrysler Group prevails in its refusal to recall 2.7 million Jeeps linked to 51 fire deaths.... Read More »

 

Chrysler recalls nearly 630,000 Jeeps to fix transmissions, airbags, seat belts

11:23 am U.S. ET | June 6, 2013
Chrysler Group said today it will recall more than 220,000 units of the Jeep Wrangler to fix a transmission flaw and 409,000 units of the Jeep Compass and Patriot worldwide to fix a software glitch that could stop airbags and seat belts from working in a crash.... Read More »

 

Chrysler rejects U.S. safety firm's request for recall of 2.7 million Jeeps

June 5, 2013 06:01 CET
Chrysler Group said it does not intend to honor a request from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall as many as 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs. NHTSA said a recall is needed to address safety problems with the vehicles' fuel systems.... Read More »

 

Chrysler rejects NHTSA's request for recall of 2.7 million Jeeps

12:40 pm U.S. ET | June 4, 2013
Chrysler Group said today it does not intend to honor a request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall as many as 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs. NHTSA said a recall is needed to address safety problems with the vehicles' fuel systems.... Read More »

 

Light-duty trucks, SUVs boost Chrysler volume 11%

12:50 pm U.S. ET | June 3, 2013
Strong demand for light-duty pickups and SUVs pushed Chrysler Group sales up 11 percent in May, its 38th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.... Read More »

 

China's Great Wall targets Jeep's SUV crown

5:04 am U.S. ET | May 31, 2013
Chinese billionaire Wei Jianjun has set a target for Great Wall's Haval marque to surpass Chrysler Group's Jeep lineup and become the world's best selling SUV brand in three to four years.... Read More »

 

LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE

Daimler debacle produced a cash cow for Chrysler

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 27, 2013
It's easy to criticize the way Daimler ran and ultimately left Chrysler during the disastrous "merger of equals" era. I know because I've done it on a regular basis.... Read More »

 

LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE

Clues to the next Wrangler: See the want ads

2:02 pm U.S. ET | May 24, 2013
Jeep has begun searching for the extra bodies to mount its next big project: the redesign of the Jeep Wrangler. And the job opening descriptions provide some clues as to the changes planned for the off-roader's next generation.... Read More »

 

LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE

2 million extra doors was the best call Daimler made during 'marriage of equals'

12:35 pm U.S. ET | May 17, 2013
It's easy to criticize the way Daimler AG ran and ultimately left Chrysler during the disastrous "marriage of equals" era. I know because I've done it on a regular basis. But even the worst marriages can produce spectacular kids -- or in this case, products.... Read More »

 

Chrysler recalls 469,000 SUVs worldwide over gearshift issue

12:52 pm U.S. ET | May 11, 2013
Chrysler Group is recalling about 469,000 SUVs worldwide to update software after some vehicles' circuit boards were found to be transmitting signals that trigger inadvertent gearshifts to neutral, the automaker said Saturday.... Read More »