Will Chrysler make Ram its fourth brand?

[desmo9]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

If you don't want to imply it, I will! lol I understand what you are saying, but putting aside the fact that it really doesn't make sense to do it, I think it is just ridiculous how people are so blindly loyal and tied up in nameplates.

Well, that's a big asset to the domestics in the light-truck race, all the while they fall flat there on the car side.

And that's sort of the point -- truck buyers are nameplate oriented, so to ditch that on the Dodge side is the epitome of dumb.

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by SwampFoxZ71

"How do you like my new Ram Dakota?" says Dude1.

"Don't you mean Dodge Dakota?" replies Dude2.

"Nope, they're Ram now." answers Dude1.

Dude2: "I thought you meant a full-size?"

Dude1: "Nawww. Had to settle for the little Ram, I couldn't afford the Ram Ram."

Given Ram Ram, and it's obvious ties to the Flintstones, when the Ram Ram drops its tranny are you left w/ Pebbles?

Thanks for the good laugh.

[LeSabre]

I sure as hell hope not!
Its stupid, ridiculous & completely w/out logic or common sense.


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[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Don't do it Chrysler!

[HoeyHimself]

I think they should do it, and once the brand is established, start shifting towards smaller more efficient utilities vehicles. What they need to do is get people out of the Dakotas and 1/2tons and in to some Kei-like trucks

[F14CRAZY]

If the trucks were put in their own brand then wouldn't the Dodge brand be off the hook as far as the CAFE ratings for their trucks go?

[LeSabre]

According to Leftlanenews.com Chrysler has greenlit this dumbass idea.

Perhaps its a way to keep the trucks & maybe eliminating Dodge in the future??

All I know is that Chrysler is making some stupid decisions of late.



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[kppet]

Dodge is going away. Either sold off, or killed off. Fiat wants the trucks because it's a market they aren't in yet.

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by kppet

Dodge is going away. Either sold off, or killed off. Fiat wants the trucks because it's a market they aren't in yet.

I don't see that happening.
More so that they sell it off, quite possibly to Nissan.

Dodge going away after this splicing I have thought of.

Sad to see Dodge possibly go away.

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[GMfan1111]

Can't believe Chrysler actually gave this idea the greenlight. Instead of taking away one of the few decent selling vehicles dodge has why not take the initiative to produce a new mid size car (a market that chrysler is and has been getting stomped on by the other domestics and the imports)

[Bravada]

Dodge Ram gets a separate budget and marketing account, it's that simple. Has the earth stopped revolving because of that?

BTW - the new "brand" is DODGE RAM

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Dodge Ram gets a separate budget and marketing account, it's that simple. Has the earth stopped revolving because of that?

BTW - the new "brand" is DODGE RAM

Which makes it even more stupid/redundant!


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[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Dodge Ram gets a separate budget and marketing account, it's that simple. Has the earth stopped revolving because of that?

BTW - the new "brand" is DODGE RAM

I read in another website that this is the "interim" approach to this idea of splitting the brands up. That the new brand will be called "Dodge Ram" only for a few years before dropping "Dodge" in favor of keeping just "Ram" -- so all we get is a very long transition.

I didn't believe it at first, but honestly, if they are going to go through the expense and trouble of dividing these brands up to carve out a niche for Dodge cars as a performance car marque, that makes sense to me.

Otherwise, why even bother to divide up the brands in the first place if each will trade on the Dodge brand? If that's what they are really going to do - and the brands will be Dodge Ram and Dodge Cars - then they may as well not even split the brands up and leave it as it is.

Just reporting what I read, but it kinda makes sense. Of course, what would make even BETTER sense is to leave Dodge completely alone and intact instead of trying to carve out a separate brand...but that's another story...

Originally Posted by LeSabre

Which makes it even more stupid/redundant!


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Exactly! What's the point then? Why add a new "CEO" for a Dodge Ram brand and send out a press release, etc? Why not just leave it the way it was if the point is to simply call your dedicated truck/commerical vehicle brand the "Dodge Ram Brand"?

I think that the scenario outlined above from other websites (eventually transitioning to just the Ram Brand) maybe their real goal. If not, then why even bother? They should have just left it alone as as single, integrated brand and tossed this "performance car" idea out the window.

Which, by the way, makes even LESS sense to me. If Dodge is being pulled from Europe, and if Alfa Romeo (itself a performance brand) is coming to the US market, then why even push Dodge to be a performance car brand? Why not leave Dodge alone since you're gonna sell Alfas here anyway? Is it even necessary to "pair" the brands together?

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

I read in another website that this is the "interim" approach to this idea of splitting the brands up. That the new brand will be called "Dodge Ram" only for a few years before dropping "Dodge" in favor of keeping just "Ram" -- so all we get is a very long transition.

I didn't believe it at first, but honestly, if they are going to go through the expense and trouble of dividing these brands up to carve out a niche for Dodge cars as a performance car marque, that makes sense to me.

Otherwise, why even bother to divide up the brands in the first place if each will trade on the Dodge brand? If that's what they are really going to do - and the brands will be Dodge Ram and Dodge Cars - then they may as well not even split the brands up and leave it as it is.

Just reporting what I read, but it kinda makes sense. Of course, what would make even BETTER sense is to leave Dodge completely alone and intact instead of trying to carve out a separate brand...but that's another story...

Exactly! What's the point then? Why add a new "CEO" for a Dodge Ram brand and send out a press release, etc? Why not just leave it the way it was if the point is to simply call your dedicated truck/commerical vehicle brand the "Dodge Ram Brand"?

I think that the scenario outlined above from other websites (eventually transitioning to just the Ram Brand) maybe their real goal. If not, then why even bother? They should have just left it alone as as single, integrated brand and tossed this "performance car" idea out the window.

Which, by the way, makes even LESS sense to me. If Dodge is being pulled from Europe, and if Alfa Romeo (itself a performance brand) is coming to the US market, then why even push Dodge to be a performance car brand? Why not leave Dodge alone since you're gonna sell Alfas here anyway? Is it even necessary to "pair" the brands together?

IMO, There is no sense to what they are doing at all w/splitting the cars & trucks w/in Dodge. Dodge is fine the way it is & much more rounded by offering performance & non-performance cars, trucks-both reg & HD as well as a one or two SUV/CUV's. It's more or less Chrysler's Chevrolet/Ford division as it always has been. Dodge isn't broken, no need to split the division up & create a new 4th one w/the hard times Chrsyler group itself is in w/hardly any new product coming in the next 18-24months. Dodge just needs a new styling direction since their "edge" styling was a major flop & a big turn off.


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[Bravada]

I read in another website that this is the "interim" approach to this idea of splitting the brands up. That the new brand will be called "Dodge Ram" only for a few years before dropping "Dodge" in favor of keeping just "Ram" -- so all we get is a very long transition.

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.

I didn't believe it at first, but honestly, if they are going to go through the expense and trouble of dividing these brands up to carve out a niche for Dodge cars as a performance car marque, that makes sense to me.

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".

Otherwise, why even bother to divide up the brands in the first place if each will trade on the Dodge brand?

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.

In short, the Dodge Ram and Avenger should not compete for development or marketing funds.

I believe Chevrolet and GM trucks, as well as Ford and Ford trucks might indeed be split units, nobody makes any kerfuffle about it. The merging of Dodge and Dodge Trucks was just an ill-advised cost-cutting move in recent years.

Why add a new "CEO" for a Dodge Ram brand and send out a press release, etc?

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.

Dodge is being pulled from Europe

Is it? Did I miss something?