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Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart to Be Discontinued Within 18 Months

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plans to drop the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 from its lineup within 18 months.
Chrysler 200 1 photo
Photo: FCA
The American-Italian carmaker has justified the decision by the fact that consumer demand in the US market is shifting towards SUVs and crossovers. The carmaker’s latest strategy involves boosting capacity for the Ram and Jeep brands, whose models are a better fit for the current trends in the market. Currently, the company is struggling to meet the demand for Ram pickups and Jeep models.

The news comes from a conference call between FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne and Wall Street analysts, the Detroit Free Press reports. The decision to stop making the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart is surprising to say the least if we consider the investments the carmaker made in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, where it makes the 200, which adds up to $1.6 billion if we include the cost of the Dart compact model. The latter is made in Belvedere, Illinois.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the two factories will shift production to build Ram pickup trucks in Sterling Heights, and Jeep Cherokee SUVs in Belvidere. However, the precise moves in production have yet to be confirmed by FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Both models are appreciated for some traits, but the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart have their drawbacks. Even Marchionne criticized the 200’s rear seat access, while the Dart has been told off for having a higher price than its competitors, and the fact that it’s one of the biggest models in its class has not helped sales that much, as the car only sold 87,000 units last year.

Instead of making more sedans and hatchbacks, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will focus on developing its SUV and crossover range. The move makes sense in today’s market, but the carmaker needs solutions to increase capacity for specific vehicles, and giving up on a compact and a midsize car seems to be the solution FCA chose for dealing with this issue.

However, the shift in production towards SUVs and crossovers puts Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in a vulnerable position if gas prices go up in the future, as the company loses some of its smaller cars in the range.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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