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Originally Posted by Bravada
I don't know how why those websites make this up - the Dodge Ram becomes a separate business unit, and I can see why, but there is nothing more to it. Splitting Dodge makes little business sense and Fiatsler is short of cash for any major moves like that. It's just the return to the pre-1998 era when Dodge Trucks had separate management.
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It was mentioned on AllPar someplace and then it was also mentioned by an analyst over at Automotive News. This isn't to say that it's 100% sure, but it does have some plausibility - even if I don't know if it will necessarily happen.
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Originally Posted by Bravada
They won't, Dodge is their volume brand and they need the volume. The same as GM is not going to make Chevrolet all sports cars. This whole thing stemmed from a comment from Marchionne who tried to paint Dodge in a positive light to make borrowing platforms by Alfa from Dodge seem less "inappropriate".
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The way that I perceive this - and others - has everything to do with comments made by Marchionne and others leaking information. Maybe we are wrong, but how are we supposed to interpret it when the comments come from the horses mouth? Alfa Romeo is NOT a mainstream brand. Dodge sells over a million cars a year and is in every segment (as you say, just like Chevrolet -- or Ford or Toyota for that matter). Alfa doens't even come close to that kind of volume and has been trying for years to hit the 300,000 mark. In my opinion, he could have simply stated that these platforms were going to be shared across the board rather than single out Alfa since most of Alfa's platforms are also shared with other products in the Fiat Group. For him to single out Alfa (whether it was to make it seem more "appropriate" or not) makes me think he's seeking some kind of realignment of core-brand values.
Maybe Sergio mispoke, but its not like we're spinning this out of nowhere.
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Originally Posted by Bravada
The brand isn't getting divided. P&L responsibility, marketing budgets and accounts and development are. This is to protect the immensely profitable Dodge Ram line from any ups and downs at Dodge Cars. There is a daring mission to turn around the latter which should not affect the former in any way to guarantee some degree of financial stability.
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Perhaps, but if that were the case, then why not simply make your own behind-the-scenes changes for accounting/P&L/marketing without making a big splash about it? This is like GM making a huge deal about how stats and accounting numbers are reported -- is it really worthy of a Press Release if there isn't something more substantial going on?
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Originally Posted by Bravada
The whole "brand" thing was made up by the press. There is a new BUSINESS UNIT for Dodge Ram trucks. This is sent out to dealers to reassure them there will be additional emphasis put on propping up Ram sales and keeping it competitive.
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This seems odd to me. GM can reassure their dealers that they are dedicated to Chevrolet pickups and SUVs without creating an entirely business unit. Same can hold true of Toyota or others. But I guess to each their own...
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Originally Posted by Bravada
Is it? Did I miss something?
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Yes. European websites (as well as a few sites here in the States) have said that it is expected that Fiat will kill Dodge in Europe.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...aliber/243824/
Maybe it is more speculation, but either way, we will find out for sure come mid-November...