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BLOG: Larry P. Vellequette

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

Posted 12:35 pm U.S. ET, May 17
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A popular off-roading magazine calls the Daimler-era call to add two extra doors to the venerable Wrangler "the best automotive industry decision of the last decade."
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. And today, the 1 millionth copy of one of the best results of Chrysl ...
     Continue reading "2 million extra doors was the best call Daimler made during 'marriage of equals'" » May 17, 2013 12:35 pm U.S. ET
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Ram photo shoot goes horribly, horribly wrong

Posted 12:00 pm U.S. ET, May 7
I love puns, so when photos arrived of the big blue Pacific crashing against a floundering Ram heavy-duty pickup during a beach-photo-shoot-gone-wrong, my mind just raced.
"Guts. Gnarly. Ram."
"Ram 2500 --fathoms?"
"Finally, the perf ...
     Continue reading "Ram photo shoot goes horribly, horribly wrong" » May 7, 2013 12:00 pm U.S. ET
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Fiat ad or (Arianna, Pitbull) music video?

Posted 7:42 am U.S. ET, May 4
I present to you Fiat's latest video in North America, "Sexy People."
It could easily have been ghost written by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
...
     Continue reading "Fiat ad or (Arianna, Pitbull) music video?" » May 4, 2013 7:42 am U.S. ET
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Why the auto industry needs to slow down

Posted 2:55 pm U.S. ET, April 29
I'd like to offer a bit of counterintuitive thinking, at least in terms of technology.
Here it is: The auto industry needs to slow down.
We have arrived at a point where the pace of technological advancement -- how fast automakers and suppliers can make their products better -- has vastly o ...
     Continue reading "Why the auto industry needs to slow down" » Apr 29, 2013 2:55 pm U.S. ET
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Why Diaz' departure from Chrysler wasn't a surprise

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, April 14
On paper, Fred Diaz got a promotion Friday when it was announced that he had agreed to become Nissan Motor Co.'s vice president of Nissan Division sales and marketing.
But in the real world, the 47-year-old now-former head of Chrysler Group's Ram brand and of Chrysler de Mexico likely got his life back with his new job -- wit ...
     Continue reading "Why Diaz' departure from Chrysler wasn't a surprise" » Apr 14, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Confused by pickup claims? That's the idea

Posted 3:01 pm U.S. ET, April 8
DETROIT -- The five automakers that build full-sized light-duty pickups must hate tree-grown fruit because they sure go out of their way to avoid apples-to-apples comparisons.
The fuel economy ratings for General Motors' redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickups highlight the confusing claims that ...
     Continue reading "Confused by pickup claims? That's the idea" » Apr 8, 2013 3:01 pm U.S. ET
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Economic indicators: Sales of cars, trucks and ... tchotchkes?

Posted 1:47 pm U.S. ET, April 3
Economists have long known that certain retail-level transactions -- such as the number of packages handled by UPS or FedEx -- are good indicators of the economy's overall strength or weakness.
But does the same hold true for branded automotive tchotchkes?
Last year, Chrysler Group's Mopar ...
     Continue reading "Economic indicators: Sales of cars, trucks and ... tchotchkes?" » Apr 3, 2013 1:47 pm U.S. ET
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Why the stakes are high for Chrysler's new minivan

Posted 2:48 pm U.S. ET, March 29
After way more than a year of debate back and forth, Chrysler Group has settled on a design for its next generation minivan.
But in an interview with the Detroit Free Press at the New York auto show this week, Chrysler design head Ralph Gilles wouldn't disclose whether the single minivan would remain a Chrysler Town ...
     Continue reading "Why the stakes are high for Chrysler's new minivan" » Mar 29, 2013 2:48 pm U.S. ET
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Re-engineered Durango punches its ticket to the ball

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 28
Since its relaunch as a 2011 model, the Dodge Durango has been the large and largely ignored stepsister of its much-celebrated platform mate, the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
While the Grand Cherokee scooped up awards and headlined Chrysler Group's marketing campaigns, the Durango soldiered on in relative obscurity, despite its role ...
     Continue reading "Re-engineered Durango punches its ticket to the ball" » Mar 28, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Can today's diesels erase Olds memories?

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 23
I've been wondering lately just how long it takes sustained execution to erase previous experience.
Or put another way: What's the statute of limitations on reputation?
The catalyst for this exercise is Chrysler Group's reintroduction this year of diesel engines in its lineup, first in the ...
     Continue reading "Can today's diesels erase Olds memories?" » Mar 23, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Chrysler's hot sales streak faces tough test in March

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 18
Chrysler Group's string of 35 months of year-over-year sales increases may be about to end.
The streak goes back to April 2010 and equals the company's longest run of consecutive U.S. gains, which stretched from February 1992 to December 1994. The reconstituted company's electronic records only go back to the early 1980s.
Of course, in 2010 Chrysler ...
     Continue reading "Chrysler's hot sales streak faces tough test in March" » Mar 18, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Is that available with the Luddite package?

Posted 2:59 pm U.S. ET, March 15
This month the iconic British motoring series Top Gear stumbled into a fantastic idea for automakers to pursue on future vehicles.
The Luddite trim level.
The comedy show's presenters argued -- quite reasonably -- that automobiles stuffed with modern electronic cabin gadgets had gr ...
     Continue reading "Is that available with the Luddite package?" » Mar 15, 2013 2:59 pm U.S. ET
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The car salesman and the faux test drive from hell

Posted 2:49 pm U.S. ET, March 13
Update corrects spelling of Camaro.
I admit it: I was initially fooled by an online video making the rounds online that allegedly shows a used car salesman from North Carolina taking the test drive from hell in a hot Continue reading "The car salesman and the faux test drive from hell" » Mar 13, 2013 2:49 pm U.S. ET
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A prenatal nose job for the Jeep Cherokee? Or...

Posted 2:19 pm U.S. ET, March 6
Is Jeep planning a nose job for the 2014 Cherokee, even before its official unveiling this month in New York?
A mule spotted last week by an Automotive News reporter in Los Angeles shows that they're at least testing the idea.
Beneath its covered front fascia, the hacked-up Alfa Gu ...
     Continue reading "A prenatal nose job for the Jeep Cherokee? Or..." » Mar 6, 2013 2:19 pm U.S. ET
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Why this Jeep should sell -- whether you call it Cherokee or not

Posted 3:08 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 25
Here's the thing about the 2014 Jeep Cherokee that Chrysler Group was forced to reveal on Friday: It's a really good, modern take on the AMC Eagle.
But it's not a Cherokee -- and that to me is what had many Jeep enthusiasts wailing and gnashing their teeth last week when the Web site Jalopnik showed the first images of the co ...
     Continue reading "Why this Jeep should sell -- whether you call it Cherokee or not" » Feb 25, 2013 3:08 pm U.S. ET
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With stellar detective work, today’s recalls are not like yesterday’s

Posted 10:44 am U.S. ET, Feb. 22
People in this industry have a love-hate relationship with recalls.
Dealers can love them if they ring up service reimbursements from the factory and give people a reason to visit their stores. But they can hate them if the recall leaves a customer inconvenienced or worse, gives consumers a reason to question the integrity of ...
     Continue reading "With stellar detective work, today’s recalls are not like yesterday’s" » Feb 22, 2013 10:44 am U.S. ET
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Newborn Chrysler Capital shows up at NADA

Posted 3:42 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 9
ORLANDO -- There are lots of young companies on the expo floor at the NADA convention pushing this product or that service to help dealers.
But as far as I can tell, there's only one so young that it ought to be wearing diapers.
Chrysler Capital, the new financing venture between Chrysler G ...
     Continue reading "Newborn Chrysler Capital shows up at NADA " » Feb 9, 2013 3:42 pm U.S. ET
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New Chrysler council chairman slips in a sale wherever he can -- or bottle

Posted 12:00 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 8
The difference between regular auto dealers and successful auto dealers is simple: successful auto dealers never stop selling, even when they're hundreds of miles from home.
Gary Brown, the incoming chairman of the Chrysler National Dealer Council lives this philosophy. And if you're near a place where beverages are served th ...
     Continue reading "New Chrysler council chairman slips in a sale wherever he can -- or bottle" » Feb 8, 2013 12:00 pm U.S. ET
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Gassed at work: Was there a question in there somewhere?

Posted 10:36 am U.S. ET, Feb. 2
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: The quarterly analyst calls that automakers conduct are like gold mines -- filled with valuable nuggets, but with dangerous pockets of trapped gas threatening at every turn.
For the most part, the problem is not the automakers or their executives.
...
     Continue reading "Gassed at work: Was there a question in there somewhere?" » Feb 2, 2013 10:36 am U.S. ET
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Sergio promises updated Chrysler product plan next week

Posted 3:52 pm U.S. ET, Jan. 24
DETROIT -- Sergio Marchionne said he will update the five-year product plan that the automaker laid out in November 2009 when Chrysler Group announces its earnings Wednesday.
Speaking to Automotive News last week during the Detroit auto show, the Chrysler-Fiat CEO said that enough changes have been made to the origin ...
     Continue reading "Sergio promises updated Chrysler product plan next week" » Jan 24, 2013 3:52 pm U.S. ET
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Chrysler pays tribute to 1963 concept car

Posted 9:51 am U.S. ET, Jan. 14
DETROIT -- Chrysler Group dropped a surprise concept on its stand this morning, a Chrysler 300S Turbine edition that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of the automaker's famous 1963 turbine-powered concept car.
In addition to its striking matte copper paint, the 300S Turbine rides on special 22-inch hand-painted wheels that ...
     Continue reading "Chrysler pays tribute to 1963 concept car" » Jan 14, 2013 9:51 am U.S. ET
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Dodge Dart posts best sales month yet despite Avenger discounts

Posted 4:08 pm U.S. ET, Jan. 3
Chrysler Group's new Fiat-based compact sedan posted its best-ever sales month in December, more than a half-year after the 2013 Dodge Dart began showing up on dealer lots.
The 6,105 Darts that dealers sold last month came as the four-door made the final cut on several Car of the Year lists and boosted its total U.S. sales ...
     Continue reading "Dodge Dart posts best sales month yet despite Avenger discounts" » Jan 3, 2013 4:08 pm U.S. ET
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I'm not the only C-Max driver disappointed with its mpg

Posted 7:53 am U.S. ET, Dec. 27
Apparently, it wasn't just me.
A lawsuit seeking class-action status has been filed against ...
     Continue reading "I'm not the only C-Max driver disappointed with its mpg" » Dec 27, 2012 7:53 am U.S. ET
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What's next in Marchionne-Piech tussle -- a bounty?

Posted 4:27 pm U.S. ET, Dec. 4
Chrysler Group released year-end monthly sales incentives on Tuesday. Most were the normal stuff you would expect from a company trying to move metal before a new year rolls around.
But one of Chrysler's lesser-advertised incentives this month is steeped in so much personal pique it should come with its own dueling glove. ...
     Continue reading "What's next in Marchionne-Piech tussle -- a bounty? " » Dec 4, 2012 4:27 pm U.S. ET
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Tapping supermodels and sex, again, to sell Fiat's expanding line

Posted 11:25 am U.S. ET, Nov. 29
LOS ANGELES -- Most everyone agrees that sex sells.
Chrysler Group will soon find out whether sex tinged with bawdy humor sells Fiats.
The automaker premiered a series of new short films for its launch of the Fiat 500e electric, 500 Abarth Cabrio, and 500L wagon Wednesday at the Los Ang ...
     Continue reading "Tapping supermodels and sex, again, to sell Fiat's expanding line" » Nov 29, 2012 11:25 am U.S. ET
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