Chrysler's Conundrum

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Chrysler’s sales fell 36 percent last year, as bankruptcy and some of the weakest products on the market conspired to keep sales and market share trending downwards. CEO Sergio Marchionne figures Chrysler’s slide has hit bottom, and indeed his turnaround hinges on considerable improvement over last year’s dismal numbers. How much improvement? Marchionne tells the Freep that ChryCo needs to sell 1.1m vehicles in the US next year, an 18 percent improvement on 2009’s number, in order to reach his break-even projections. Worldwide, Chrysler needs to sell 1.65m vehicles, or 27 percent more than last year. Given the downward sales and market share momentum, the overall uncertainty of the US market, and the lack of new products until the end of this year, reaching those volume numbers won’t be easy. Especially because Marchionne refuses to cut any corners.

Despite offering healthy incentives throughout 2009, Marchionne is hell-bent on curing Chrysler’s cash-on-the-hood addiction. Or, at least talking about curing the problem. In the past, Marchionne has stuck to platitudes when it comes to disclaiming against incentives. At the Detroit Auto Show however, he had a real-life anecdote. The WSJ explains:

Last July, for example, when the U.S. government offered as much as $4,500 in “cash for clunkers” rebates, Chrysler’s sales chief at the time, Peter Fong, drew up a plan to offer an additional discount of $4,500 from Chrysler, two people familiar with the matter said.

At the time, Chrysler’s bankruptcy had scared away customers, and its sales were in freefall. The plan was intended to pull shoppers back into Chrysler stores and spur sales.

But when Mr. Marchionne found out about it, he was furious, these people said. In an August meeting with Mr. Fong and his sales team, the CEO excoriated them, saying doubling discounts amounted to “giving away margin” at a time when Chrysler was scrambling for profits, one person familiar with the details of the meeting said. “Sergio was ballistic,” this person said.

Several weeks later, in September, Mr. Fong was summoned to the office of Nancy Rae, Chrysler’s head of human resources, and was told his services were no longer needed, these people said.

So that’s what they mean when they say “ for personal reasons.”

Anyway, Chrysler’s incentives have been falling over the last several months, but so have sales. That Chrysler’s cars don’t sell themselves is well-established fact, so it’s hard to see how the firm plans on improving sales without some kind of draw for consumers. And the special editions planned for this year until new products hit aren’t going to do it on their own. Meanwhile, GM is showing no compunction about burning its government cash with a fat portfolio of incentives.

Ultimately, it seems that Chrysler has two sales strategy options for 2010 The first is to play business as usual, disrespecting outgoing models with heavy discounts to keep the metal moving, and only phasing them out when new (and heavily refreshed) products come out later this year. The other is to try to build a new incentive-light sales strategy around Chrysler’s current batch of dogs. This option, which is what Marchionne appears to have chosen, will show just how far an automaker’s sales can fall in a single year. By the time the new products arrive, Chrysler will be lucky if any consumers remember they still exist.

As badly addicted to incentives as Chrysler is, it may still be too soon to kick the habit.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Jan 14, 2010

    Hertz put me in a KIA Forte this morning at Tampa. It didn't suck more than most rental cars. When I got to West Palm this evening, Alamo offered me the choice between a Dodge Caliber and a KIA Rondo. I didn't hesitate. Chrysler is done. Stick a fork in it.

  • Jimboy Jimboy on Jan 14, 2010

    As a the owner of a Dodge Magnum, I have to disagree about the desirability of Chrysler products. Here in Canada, Chrysler is either first or second in sales yearly. (This includes EVERY make, not just domestics), So obviously we think their product has value. Maybe Americans just love to hate their own products, I don't know. I have yet to see any car that can match the Magnum/300 for style, quality and price point. The Caravan is still the sales leader in minivans, the Journey is another success, and the Ram is truck of the year! Certainly the Caliber/Compass and Avenger/Sebring need work, but these issues are being addressed already. My real issue with Chrysler is Dealer Service; absolutely awful!!!! I believe this is what keeps people away from Chrysler products. After my experience with several Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealers in my area, and from talking with others; it appears very few of them are worth a damn. Until Chrysler kicks some dealer ass, seriously, they will continue to lose market share. I may buy another Chrysler product, but I will never allow another dealer near it. Members of my own family who grew up on Chryco won't go near them, not even to look, and that's based totally on negative dealership experience. So Sergio, if you're listening, fix the dealer body, and you may just have a chance of survival, otherwise, Ciao Baby.

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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