Well, merry christmas . . . .

https://www.ft.com/content/92ff16ec-2162-11ea-92da-f0c92e957a96

https://www.freep.com/story/money/c...-chrysler-fca-peugeot-merger/2687303001/



I can for see north america being "gutted" with the European company, stripping all profits from Ram & Jeep, and putting nothing back into Chrysler/Dodge . . . and we get warmed over versions of European micro cars . . . . somehow, history is repeating itself . . . ????

Hope I am wrong . . .

unfortunately Chrysler corporation as most of us here now it, is basically a shell of what used to be from similar situations as you describe.
Matt

Sample quote

The two companies have highlighted a pledge to extract $4.1 billion (3.7 billion euro) in annual savings without closing plants. That suggested cuts elsewhere — on Wednesday the companies pointed to savings in vehicle platforms, purchasing scale, marketing, logistics and information technology — but Bailo said the FCA headquarters is a "great building (in a) great location."
End quote

Over and over again,
in all types of industries- not just automotive,
90% of the time these “Synergies” for saving money in huge mergers do not come true.
It is historical fact.

Sample quote
"Chrysler is the golden goose within FCA. It makes 100% of the profits. It will also be the most profitable part of PSA-FCA, and PSA will not want to screw that up. The merger could actually help the Chrysler brand, which is down to only two vehicles, the 300 (sedan) and Pacifica (minivan)," McElroy said.
End quote

Ram and Jeep “free cash flow” cannot support everything else worldwide, especially electric conversions of all powertrains.

The main “pro” of this merger is now
several governments will pony up money to save factory jobs
when a downturn comes.
That is actually a big survival advantage.

When the merger is complete and new stock is listed,
I predict the Agnelli heirs will
use the “honeymoon period” to sell off stock and diversify their wealth.

https://www.ft.com/content/01346274-5211-11e9-b401-8d9ef1626294

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/automotive/fiat-chrysler-psa-boards-sign-47-billion-merger-deal

Sample quote

Before the closing, Fiat will distribute to its shareholders a special dividend of more than $6 billion
while PSA will distribute its 46 percent stake in car-parts maker Faurecia SE to its own investors.

End quote

Sample quote

China's Dongfeng Motor Corp., which owns 12 percent of PSA, will see its stake in the combined company decline to 4.5 percent as a result of the deal and the sale of a portion of its holding to the French carmaker.

Dongfeng's stake in PSA has attracted attention because of the possibility it could interfere with U.S. regulatory approval. U.S. economic adviser Larry Kudlow said last month the Trump administration would review the proposed merger because the deal would give the Chinese carmaker a stake in the combined company.

Tavares, on the call, said the companies don't expect any significant issues from the antitrust regulators.

Legal, tax issues
Fiat CEO Mike Manley, on the call, dismissed concerns over legal and tax issues that arose in recent weeks. GM in November filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler, charging it with bribing the United Auto Workers union for more favorable terms. Manley called the allegation meritless.

Separately, Italian tax authorities have claimed that Fiat owes the government a hefty sum after underestimating Chrysler's value following its purchase several years ago. Manley reiterated that the case would have no material impact, and said both issues were reviewed during due diligence with PSA.
End quote

I don't think they'll gut it, Ram, Dodge and Jeep are cash registers and could be ever moreso with better leadership and apparently Tavares is a good CEO, which is why they are letting him run it all. They can send over their larger French SUV's and sell them under the Chrysler banner.

FCA's problem was "Dodge is RWD performance, Jeep is SUV's and Ram is trucks - only". All that did was limit what the brands could sell and I imagine that rule will be gone with the new guy. You can't have 10 brands and only let one of them sell SUV's when SUV's are all everyone buys these days.

One plus is it's a potential way to get more small fuel efficient Dodges here to gain sales in that way. And at least the markets don't overlap much so as long as they continue to let people who know the different makes and markets run their own divisions it should be OK. The big downside is if one is the big money maker they could use the profits from that to keep the loosers afloat and not leave enough to let the good part evolve and survive properly. On the other hand that works both ways and can also be good for Chrysler down the road as long as the Daimler fiasco doesn't happen again. People didn't like the Chrysler/Fiat thing either but that turned out OK but that was obviously smaller then this new thing is.

There you have it...sounds about correct.

The funny thing is watching all of the folks that would NEVER in a million years drive 'foreign' cars now drive 100% foreign cars....

Sergio was one slick guy...his 'legacy' will remain for a long time.

If they merge with Peugeot, you can be guaranteed they will run.

So.... the Germans build crummy cars - over-engineered, overrated, over priced, so-so reliability, expensive to fix.

The Italians build even worse cars - low quality and ALMOST the least reliable vehicles anywhere.

The French build the absolute worst cars on the planet. Maybe the known galaxy.

If you take espresso and mix it with doggy do-do, it still tastes like do-do.

But then, that might be just MY take in this!

The PSA brands are actually near the top for reliability (which was a surprise), not Toyota but above Hyundai. WAY ahead of FCA brands...

Stick a Chrysler grille in this thing and give the dealers something to sell

^^^ What the hell is it???

"DS7 crossback"

"508 GT wagon"

E-legend concept, whoever did this should be given the keys to design the next gen charger and challenger

Perhaps, but that looks like the next generation Camaro to me.

Urp.

but if you knew what a Peugeot 504 coupe looked like, you would see what the E-legend concept's styling is based on

looks nearly identical to 10 or 15 other things that look nearly identical to everything else in that market. For some reason this one says buick or maybe mitsubishi or kia to me. Like it makes any difference.

That's what they said when Fiat was given Chrysler.

We see how that worked.

Oh I remember people here fantasizing like a teenaged boy with a Playboy in one hand about Alfa being sold here, rebadged as Dodges, etc.

We see how that worked.

What we've seen is FCA polishing the LX and variant turd until it shown so bright many couldn't see the lack of investment into the brand for all the "shiny" on it.

Quick, without looking name the models being sold as a Chrysler right now.

Then look at when the basic platform was introduced.

Other than 2-doors & the fact they are both silver with rubber tires, I don't see any of the 504 in that concept car.