Chrysler Admits Sebring, Dodge Nitro Are Duds
It seems the Chrysler Group is feeling quite frank now that it is leaving the control of German overlords Daimler AG. In a recent employee Q&A session, Chrysler executives admitted they misjudged the design and desire of buyers for the new Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Nitro, two very important models for the company. This quote seems the most telling:
“As a result of these embarrassing ‘misses,’ there are extremely aggressive actions being taken on many of the existing products — and also the yet to be introduced products to get us at least to the middle of the competitive pack in very short order,” one executive wrote to employees.
This is a rare confession from a company that has seen the heights of success (the Chrysler 300C) and failure (the redesigned Sebring) in roughly the past five years.
Design is often a subjective game, but we here at Cars.com routinely note the substandard interiors in many Chrysler products. If the company fixed the interiors — as well as its near bottom-dwelling status on reliability surveys — a successful design could actually save the day. If they don’t fix those issues, the company could be up for more roller coaster rides.
Chrysler Rethinks Design After Duds (The Detroit News)
Fantasy Chrysler Lineup (KickingTires)
Why the New Dodge Challenger Will Sell (KickingTires)
