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Chrysler's goals

Sorry, but Chrysler did have cheap interiors back then. They may have compared favorably to GM at the time, but they were behind everyone else. The LH sedan interiors were legendary in their cheapness, despite beautiful, flowing designs.

The D3 in general, has always been known for cheap interior bits, and they know it. Look at who they aspire to be:

Buick's new LaCrosse is using Lexus for a benchmark. While at the car show, the Buick representative kept telling me how much they want to compete with the ES330 (the fancy Camry). Close, but not quite to Lexus standards. That's a shame, because the ES is arguably their worst vehicle.

Ford has known it for years. The Granada was advertised as an inexpensive Mercedes, and they even showed side-by-side comparisons in their ads! Ford bought Audi 5000s to design the original Taurus.

There were simularities, but true comparisons are laughable.

Chrysler's goals

You've got to be kidding me. The pre-Daimler Chrysler cars had fantastic interiors. Yeah there was some plastic used. Plastic is in all cars. But the plastic and the graining Chrysler used pre-Daimler was MUCH nicer than what Daimler forced on them, and nicer even than some of their competitors back then.

I will agree, they have their work cut out for them now. The years of German management damage have really tarnished the brand over these last few years.

But I have good news. Chrysler's new CEO professed that the lagging quality marks Chrysler's gotten recently are on the mend. The cars rolling off the line have been corrected and purchasing one today will not have the same issues as even 1 year ago.

They have a solid plan; all they need now is some time to carry it out. It's a race against the clock.

Chrysler's goals

Chrysler does build some great looking cars- Charger, 300, Challenger. They also have some real dogs- Caliber, Sebring, Avenger. You see a lot of them, but most go to fleet sales as rental cars.

As for the Town and Country, it doesn't do much for me. I prefer the Honda Odyssey or the Toyota Sienna. GM and Ford never figured out the minivan segment. Still, Chrysler is a big player in this segment.

Chrysler's issue is that they don't have a mainstream competitor to go up against the Camry/Accord and they don't have an econo entry that can match the Corolla/Civic/Mazda 3. Building a real competitor in this segment could save the company.

Chrysler also needs to start using quality materials. Some are blaming the quality issue on Daimler, but it predates their involvement. Climb into a 90s Chrysler LH or even an Eagle Concorde. Cheap plastic abounds. With so many Calibers and Sebrings in rental fleets, consumers are exposed to the cheapness every time they go on vacation.

In recent trips to get my cars serviced, I've had several loaners. The Mazda 3 had nice materials. The Chevy Aveo and Dodge Caliber were appallingly cheap. All 3 are entry level vehicles, and they all start at less than $15,000.

If I were in the market for a mainstream midsize family sedan or an economy car, Chrysler wouldn't even make the list right now.

Oh, and despite having a wife and two kids, I've successfully avoided the minivan purchase. Make mine a crossover or a wagon. I loved the Magnum, but my wife hated the blindspots.

Chrysler's goals

I may have been lucky with my chrysler products ,but the last 4 leases ,i've never had to bring them back other than for oil changes .I think reliability issues are overstated .In the past you couldnt touch a ford or chevy for what you could lease a chrysler product for.I just hope being passed around to germans and italians don't wash out the culture of the brand.Chyslers just have a nice feel when you sit in them.

Chrysler's goals

I don't know about you guys but I love the Dodge Charger and the Town and Country. Chrysler may have to change a wee bit to survive but if they continue to design the same way, they may have a shot.

Chrysler's goals

I truly feel Chrysler's days are numbered. Their quality sux, their designs are stale and they are losing market share by the minute.

There is NO way they can catch up with Ford or GM when it comes to style, quality and/or reliabilty while trying to keep the lights on day to day.

I give them 2 years and they will be boarding up the windows AND DOORS AT all their facilities. Mark MY words.

Chrysler's goals

I think the advertisement in the papers shows the flawed strategy the best..."Lease a new Chrysler for $249 / mo. Must be an employee, returning Chrysler customer and well qualified." How many of those are left? Good luck! Kiss my tax dollars goodbye.

Chrysler's goals

As long as Chrysler has their customers develop their cars, they are doomed. You can't design and release up to the moment you have to build and then skip the testing and validation is not a recipe for today's customer expectation. Too many shortcuts equal too few customers over the long term. You can only fool them once.

Chrysler's goals

Quality concerns are a nagging problem that has plagued Chrysler years. This is not brand new to them. The long history of this problem suggests a cultutral situation that does not consider quality improvement the hill to die on. The translation of this to the consumers is stronger than most in Detroit understand. Simply cranking out new vehicle lines does not excite car consumers. The brand is king. When car consumers shop, they see a new car with the same brand and are immediately drawn or put-off due to perception based on past history. It will not be easily accepted until the perception of sustained good quality results are achieved. Gaining better quality will be a good start on a long road to success.

Chrysler's goals

Pradeep

Chasing market share has always been a mistake for Chrysler. Better to be a profitable niche player than a bankrupt full-line manufacturer. The trouble with niches, though, is that your competitors move quickly to fill them.

Chrysler's goals

Chrysler plans to introduce 11 new or refreshed models by 2014, achieve profitability in 2011, increase market share Those are "stretch goals", therefore, they are not all going to be met. Chrysler needs to focus on niche products that only Chrysler can excel at. It needs to be more like Apple than Microsoft, to use a technology metaphor. The idea is to make big money, not to become a big company.

Chrysler's goals

I think the odds are stacked against Chrysler, to be perfectly honest. Even though I am a MOPAR man and have been all of my life, history says most of these goals are not realistic or possible.

I doubt they can increase their market share. Anything is possible when it comes to quality. Profitability - I don't think so, especially when they continue to think and act "OLD SCHOOL". Remember, it is old school that got the once Big 3 in the pickle they are now in, and whether they received taxpayer bailout or not, they are still old school. Execs and union idealisms combined. Nothing's changed but the date in time.

Chrysler's goals

ZERO

Chrysler has been a dying company for years. They are gone, rank em one step below Goverment Motors.

Chrysler cars out, and Fiats will fill the few remaining showrooms.

The UAW has killed auto manufacturing in this country, now Ford is next.

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