According to Automotive News and Rueters
MILAN/DETROIT (Reuters) -- Fiat S.p.A. will rush the first all-new Chrysler model to the U.S. market by the end of 2011 and create a new Ram brand for its truck line under a revival plan for Chrysler Group that will be shown to the U.S. government this week, people involved in the discussions said.
Fiat, which assumed management control of Chrysler under a reorganization funded by the Obama administration, is scheduled to brief officials with the White House autos task force on plans to revamp Chrysler's vehicle line-up.
Under the plan, Fiat will create a new Ram brand for what have been Dodge-branded trucks, two people with knowledge of the matter said.
In addition, Fiat will bring its first all-new Chrysler product out by the end of 2011, compressing the normal vehicle development plan, the sources said.
That will be in addition to the Fiat 500, a subcompact that Fiat plans to introduce to the U.S. market by late 2010. More new models will roll out in 2012, one of the sources said.
Chrysler and Fiat had no comment.
Chrysler's nine-member board was briefed last week by Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on the strategy for reviving the U.S. automaker's vehicle line-up, according to a person with knowledge of the plans

Dodge performance focus
The separation of the Ram truck brand will allow Fiat to make Dodge more of a performance car brand, the person said. But the move could also make it easier for Chrysler to spin off its truck business down the road if a continuing slump forced Fiat or U.S. officials to consider such a step.
Marchionne, who was due to appear at Chrysler headquarters on Thursday, said earlier this week that part of his plan for Chrysler would involve more "universal" platforms that Fiat and Chrysler could use as the basis for a number of vehicles.


Could Be good and it could be bad kind of like Pontiac and Saturn...................who? Yeah that's what I mean.

Just an additional note I read in todays Washington Post that the deal to sell Saturn to Roger Penske has fallen through. Saturn brand name will fold and some 13000 more people will become unemployed.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

This is far from being over with and that includes Ford and Chevy.

Sadly, I have to agree............

Well it's official. Ram will now be it's own brand.

This got me thinking that since Chrysler and Dodge have the same vehicles like Chevrolet and Pontiac did do you all think this may have been done as a prelude to Dodge being killed even though this article from Automotive News says otherwise?

I think the possibility definitely exists. Separate the money maker, then kill off the rest.............. I'd hate to see it tho'. The loss of competition allows the rest of them to stagnate.

Interesting in that it was stated that each brand CEO was responsible for profit/loss within the brand.

So, does Chrysler continue to be the design agent for all brands? Or, does Fiat bring in some of their design folks and let Giles continue to be honcho for Chrysler only?

Interesting to see what the infusion of FIAT Commercial vehicles to the Ram Truck Brand. The Dodge Sprinter with the MB diesel was a very successful truck. They made great platforms for the smaller Class C, motorhomes. Like the Sprinter, I expect the new commercial vans/trucks to be more fuel efficient and diesels than current US designs. Europe has long needed smaller trucks that achieve better fuel economy because of their narrow roads and high fuel costs.

Yes, it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

The rumors circulating around the manufacturing plants here in Detroit are that Dodge is on shaky ground, but its vehicles are targeted at different buyers than Chrysler products. This seems like very sound logic to me, GM did the same thing with Saturn and Pontiac, and we all saw the success there. Saturn managed to recapture those consumers who were purchasing Japanese vehicles, and the young and hip crowd were drawn to the edgy styling of Pontiacs.

On a serious note there are some more white collar lay offs happening at Dodge. Two ME buddies that I graduated with were being let go as of two weeks ago.

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05 kc le 4x4 mods: Vk-pro, Injen intake, Dre coilovers, infinity steering wheel and console. needs: this list is way to long