This blog site is a global centric news website of gathered printed news, blog entries, inside information, and other product sources that belongs to DaimlerChyrsler AG.
TONY VAN ALPHEN |BUSINESS REPORTER | Barmpton - - DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. is cutting more production in the new year to reduce high inventories.Union officials confirmed yesterday that the company will idle its minivan complex in Windsor for a third week in January and suspend operations at another assembly plant in Brampton for a fourth week in the first quarter.In Brampton, the company had indicated earlier it would halt output of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Charger models during the weeks of Jan. 29, Feb. 19 and March 12 but now it is adding the week of Jan. 22.In Windsor, the auto maker had scheduled the first two weeks of January for maintenance and preparation for producing a new generation of minivans during the summer.But Ken Lewenza, president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 444, said the plant will also remain down during the week of Jan. 15."They need to get rid of the extra inventory," said Lewenza.The two plants are also idle during the last week of this month because of the holiday season.The stoppages will affect about 5,000 workers in Windsor and another 3,600 in Brampton.During the production shutdowns, workers will collect about 70 per cent of their gross pay through a combination of federal employment benefits and company supplementary unemployment funds. Chrysler Group, the company's Detroit parent, is also extending stoppages early in the new year at plants in Detroit, Warren, Mich., St. Louis, Mo. and Newark, Del.
Jeff Poisson, who has worked at the Windsor plant for over 20 years, said the problems were partly a result of the merger with Daimler-Benz.
MICHELINE MAYNARD |DETROIT, Dec. 14 — Chrysler executives startled investors in late October when they acknowledged that the company had been building tens of thousands of cars on spec to keep its factories humming. Those cars were not included in the company’s estimates of its backlog of unsold vehicles on dealer lots — a figure that was already high by industry standards.
Thomas W. LaSorda may soon leave Chrysler, an official asserts.
But Chrysler’s chief executive, Thomas W. LaSorda, said Thursday on a company blog that Chrysler would continue to build cars that dealers had not ordered — just fewer of them.
At the company’s holiday party later, Mr. LaSorda declined to discuss why the company let the inventories build up.
“Let’s say we did, and we’ll get out of it,” he said. “I took responsibility for the situation, and I’ll get us out of it.”
As for the turnaround plan that many in Detroit have been expecting from Chrysler, Mr. LaSorda said he would have more to say after the first of the year.
And so Chrysler — on a perpetual roller coaster ride in recent decades from financial crises to surging sales from hit products like the 300C sedan — will probably have more bad news in coming months.
There has been plenty of bad news already, beyond the backlog of unsold cars. This year, Chrysler lost its No. 3 spot in the American market to Toyota, watched its once-envied profits evaporate, and faced a near rebellion from dealers who were angry at being saddled with an oversupply of mostly gas-thirsty vehicles that were out of step with consumers’ demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
“This year was one to forget for them,” said Jesse Toprak, an industry analyst with Edmunds.com, which provides car-buying advice.
Heads have already rolled. Chrysler’s German-born marketing chief, Joe Eberhardt, the main target of dealers’ ire, left last week to run a Mercedes dealership.
Mr. LaSorda could soon be leaving Chrysler, too, for a job at its parent, DaimlerChrysler, a senior company official said this week. But at the Thursday night party, Mr. LaSorda said in an interview: “I’m not worried about my future. It’s solid.”
If Mr. LaSorda is promoted or leaves, that could clear the way for a Volkswagen executive, Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler’s former president, to return in the top job — an outcome that some industry analysts have said is likely if Mr. LaSorda vacates his current job.
For now, though, Mr. LaSorda is racing to put together yet another turnaround plan, which Chrysler is expected to roll out in late January to stem losses that are expected to top $1.2 billion this year.
The plan, still being written, is expected to include plant closings, job cuts and reductions in spending — actions that are intended to trim Chrysler’s costs by $1,000 a vehicle.
“We have to study every part of the company,” Mr. LaSorda said.
Chrysler has pulled off turnarounds before with hit products — besides the 300C, it has scored big hits through the years with its minivans, aggressive pickups built to resemble semis and the PT Cruiser.
But those earlier comebacks occurred when Detroit companies were still in firm control of the American market. Chrysler must now battle Asian carmakers like Toyota that are in their strongest shape since they began selling cars here nearly five decades ago.
This year, Chrysler lost market share that it picked up since it introduced the 300C two and a half years ago. Through November, it held just under 13 percent of the American market. At its peak, in the mid-1990s, Chrysler held nearly 17 percent.
If Mr. LaSorda cannot fix Chrysler, it may find itself with not just a new leader, but potentially a new owner.
DaimlerChrysler has acknowledged it cannot build a small car at a profit in North America, and is in talks with Chinese companies to build one that it can import.
Should Daimler officials run out of patience with Chrysler, analysts have said, a Chinese owner might be the logical option to take the company off Daimler’s hands.
A top DaimlerChrysler executive fanned such speculation this summer when, in response to a question, he declined to rule out the possibility of selling off Chrysler. Soon after, the company said Chrysler would not be sold, but the question mark lingers, and analysts have said a Chinese buyer for Chrysler makes sense because such a deal would provide access to the American market.
Not long ago, Chrysler was in good shape. It was the only Detroit carmaker to gain market share and increase sales in 2005, when it earned a $1.8 billion operating profit, compared with G.M.’s $10.6 billion loss.
Its previous chief executive, Dieter Zetsche, who now runs DaimlerChrysler, declared numerous times that Chrysler’s primary competition was not G.M. or Ford, but Asian auto companies, with their lean operating styles and loyal customers.
JALOPNICK AUTO NEWS - - Rumors abound on the internets of an imminent announcement at some showcase of autos of a change in status from "concept" to "production" of the Dodge Avenger shown at the Paris Auto Show. Just as with any vehicle in the Dodge stable, there's expectation of an R/T version, and as I saw today on my way over to the DaimlerChrysler Tech Center in Auburn Hills, Mi for an event I can't talk about as well as can't explain why -- I noticed this little black n' chrome assembled Avenger R/T making it's way onto the hallowed grounds of the HQ for the 'merican side of the German-American hybrid. If the R/T shares the same "high-end" engine found in it's badge-engineered cousin, you'll more than likely find a 3.5-liter V6 sitting inside the engine compartment when you lift the hood. Full gallery below of the ass-end and a bit o' chrome from the front. – Ray Wert
We showed you the facelifted 2008 Ford Focus earlier today, now take a look at what Dodge has in store for next year. From the looks of this latest spy photo, the 2008 Dodge Dakota will get a revamped grille and a new set of headlights by late next year. Expect to see the base 3.7-liter six replaced by Chrysler's new 4.0-liter V6 too, while the V8s get bumps in horsepower. A much needed interior upgrade should be part of the package as well.
Associated Press | AUBURN HILLS - - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group remains on target with a review of its operations, including management and strategy, and plans to outline a restructuring by the end of the first quarter, a spokesman said Friday.
All options likely remain on the table for a recovery plan, spokesman Mike Aberlich said. DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX - news - people ) announced the review in October after a $1.5 billion operating loss at Chrysler dragged down the automaker's third-quarter profit by 37 percent.
Seven teams have been working to analyze and examine the division's business practices, Aberlich said.
Chrysler officials have said the teams were to review product strategy, portfolio management, capital management, fixed cost management, structural changes, manufacturing, material costs, revenue management and quality.
Chrysler, like its U.S. rivals General Motors Corp. (nyse: GM - news - people ) and Ford Motor Co. (nyse: F - news - people ), has suffered as high oil prices lead buyers to shift toward smaller cars, away from sport utility vehicles and other models that use more fuel. As a result, Chrysler's inventories rose this year.
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will suspend production of some models in January to help reduce bloated inventories, several dealers said Wednesday.
Affected models include some minivans, the Dodge Ram pickup, Jeep Commander and Liberty SUVs, the Dodge Magnum station wagon and the Chrysler PT Cruiser.
To further pare its vehicle stockpile, Chrysler will build only 1,000 units each next month of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV, midsize Dodge Dakota pickup, Chrysler 300 sedan and Aspen SUV next month.
The cuts will idle all or part of production at several plants, including the Jefferson North Jeep plant in Detroit and the Dodge pickup factory in Warren.
The automaker, which typically makes its weekly production plans public, declined to confirm the shutdowns, which will extend the normal holiday break. But dealers who asked not to be named told The Detroit News that an internal e-mail specifically named the models that won't be produced in January.
Chrysler's excess inventory had ballooned to 164,000 units of 2006 models at the end of November.
The automaker is temporarily halting production next month as it tries to rebound from a $1.5 billion third-quarter loss that resulted from lackluster sales this year. The automaker estimates a full-year loss of $1.2 billion.
Other factories impacted by the January production changes are in St. Louis; Newark, Del.; Toledo, Ohio and Windsor, Ontario.
As recently as last month, Chrysler shared news of the coming down weeks with workers at several affected plants, but some workers fear rumors will prove true that the shutdowns will continue beyond January.
"Not knowing how long we're going to be off is a big deal," said Theresa Horn, who works at Jefferson North where the Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee are built. "They were running production three Saturdays in a row only to lay us off."
A decision on whether to invest $600 million for a new Chrysler engine plant near Kenosha has been delayed until January.
DaimlerChrysler AG had been expected to announce its decision by the end of the year.
The automaker, based in Stuttgart, Germany, is in the midst of assessing the operation of its Chrysler Group division, after that unit reported a loss of $1.5 billion in the third quarter.
The unit has been stung by sales shortfalls and disclosures that it was building far more vehicles than were actually needed. Last week, the company announced that the Chrysler Group's No. 2 executive was leaving to run a Mercedes dealership.
Chrysler Group spokeswoman Michele Tinson said the a corporate supervisory board's evaluation of plans for a $2 billion investment in new engine plants is now planned to be finalized by mid- to late January.
At stake is the future of the Kenosha engine plant and its 1,050 jobs. The plant is all that remains of the former American Motors Corp. headquarters and manufacturing operation that Chrysler bought in 1987.
The company has identified a site in the Town of Somers, west of the City of Kenosha, for a new plant. A permit for the plant already has been preliminarily approved by the state Department of Natural Resources.
Permit documents indicate that DaimlerChrysler envisions building a 765,000-square-foot plant capable of producing 440,000 engines per year.
DaimlerChrysler is focusing on a site with just more than 200 acres in the Town of Somers, a rapidly developing community adjacent to the City of Kenosha. The new engine plant would be west of state Highway 31 and south of county Highway L, on land now used for farming.
The site has railroad access and is about four miles from Interstate 94.
The current engine plant, at 5555 30th Ave., operates on roughly 100 acres and is a couple of miles farther from I-94. That factory opened in 1917 and was acquired by Chrysler in 1987 through its purchase of the now-defunct American Motors. It was expanded in 2002, when DaimlerChrysler invested $624 million for a 450,000-square-foot addition.
DaimlerChrysler is under pressure to cut costs at Chrysler Group, after Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. announced massive restructuring programs and plant closings in the last 12 months.
"In 2007, Chrysler is expected to suffer operating losses as a result of the same factors that are plaguing GM and Ford - a weakening economy, declining share and revenues, mix issues (including a deteriorating pickup market), a high cost structure, health care costs," analysts from Fitch Ratings said in a recent report.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Taking a page from its 2005 and 2006 playbook, Chrysler is again offering Limited Edition Signature Series models of the 2007 Chrysler 300, Pacifica, PT Cruiser and Town & Country.
The 2007 Chrysler 300 Touring Signature Series starts at $30,800, including a $675 destination charge. It adds, at no cost, an AM/FM/CD navigation radio, two-tone leather-trimmed front seats, Sirius Satellite Radio with a one-year subscription, 17-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, an all-chrome grille and a Boston Acoustics six-speaker system.
The 2007 Chrysler Pacifica Touring Signature Series starts at $32,570, including a $730 destination charge, for the front-wheel-drive model. It adds a no-cost navigation system, a rear backup camera, heated seat group, cargo convenience group, 19-inch five-spoke "bright" wheels and two-tone interior trim.
The 2007 Chrysler Town & Country Touring Signature Series starts at $33,645, including a $730 destination charge. It adds a no-cost rear video system, video remote control, two wireless headphones and dual media capability. Other features include a six-disc CD/DVD changer, power moonroof and AM/FM/CD navigation radio.
The 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring Signature Series starts at $20,050, including a $640 destination charge for the manual-transmission model. It adds no-charge 16-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, speed control and a six-way power driver seat. Other features include a power moonroof and chrome exhaust tips.
What this means to you: Now you can get additional goodies at a reduced price on several Chrysler models.
The 2007 Chrysler Pacifica Signature Series has desirable features like a backup camera, two-tone interior and a navigation system. It costs just north of $32,000. (Photo courtesy of Chrysler Group)
Brabus affiliate Startech has toughened up the Jeep Compass slightly, adding a turbodiesel engine that makes 180 hp, 20-inch wheels, and a variety of body modifications. (Photo courtesy of Startech)
ESSEN, Germany — Everyone has thought deep down that the much-maligned Jeep Compass had potential.
All it took was German tuner Startech, an affiliate of Brabus, to coax some more performance from this Caliber sibling.
Unveiled at the Essen Motor Show, the Startech Compass has an enhanced turbodiesel engine, boosted to 180 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, thanks to the addition of a Startech SD3 performance kit. The tuning house adds a stainless-steel sport exhaust system with twin oval chrome tailpipes.
The modified Compass sits on 20-inch Startech Monostar five-spoke wheels with 245/35R20 tires. The adjustable suspension features progressive-rate springs that lower ride height by more than an inch.
Exterior modifications include a new front fascia, new rocker panels that also serve as running boards and a rear fascia with cutouts for the sport exhaust system.
Startech also offers a variety of interior upgrades, including stainless-steel door sills with an illuminated Startech logo.
Breakthrough 2007 Jeep(R) Patriot Delivers Classic Jeep Styling, Best-in-class Capability All at an Entry-Level Price Point of $14,985
Wednesday December 13, 2:00 pm ET
-- Jeep(R) Patriot combines packaging and functionality of a sport- utility vehicle (SUV) with the performance, handling, fuel economy (30 mpg) and price of a compact car or small pickup -- Classic Jeep styling and affordable price appeals to enthusiasts who have always wanted a Jeep -- Standard equipment includes Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti- lock Brakes (ABS) with rough-road detection, Brake Traction Control and Electronic Roll Mitigation -- Patriot completes Jeep brand's expansion from three to seven sport- utility vehicles in just two years AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler Group today announced that the U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for its all-new 2007 Jeep® Patriot is $14,985 (including $560 destination). The Jeep Patriot is a classic-styled Jeep that delivers best-in-class capability, 30 miles per gallon (mpg) fuel economy, safety and interior flexibility.
Patriot, Jeep continues to expand globally by offering a fun-to- drive, fuel-efficient and affordably priced Jeep vehicle designed to appeal to youthful customers and people with active lifestyles who may have always wanted a Jeep vehicle but, until now, may not have been able to afford one," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President-Global Marketing, Chrysler Group. "Patriot has all the credibility and cachet of the Jeep brand at a very affordable price."
Jeep Patriot will compete in the compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment, which is expected to grow considerably in the next decade, giving the Jeep brand the opportunity to grow with it. Annual compact SUV volume in the United States for the 2005 calendar year was 368,000 units, up from 297,000 units in 2004. The compact SUV segment is expected to almost double to approximately 600,000 units by 2010 and almost triple to more than 814,000 units by 2016.
The 2007 Jeep Patriot Sport and Jeep Patriot Limited models became available in U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2006 and will be available in global volume markets in both left- and right-hand drive starting in the first half of 2007.
Most Capable Vehicle in its Class
Jeep Patriot is available in three drive-train configurations. In addition to the standard front-wheel-drive system, Jeep Patriot also is available with Freedom Drive I and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package.
Freedom Drive I is an available full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with Lock mode designed to give drivers year-round assurance with the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions. This active four-wheel- drive system is recommended for daily use, including slick conditions that come with rain and light snow. Freedom Drive I also features a lockable center coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Patriot in four-wheel- drive Lock mode when navigating deep snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces.
The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is an available four-wheel-drive system that makes the 2007 Jeep Patriot a Trail Rated 4x4, creating the most capable vehicle in the crowded compact SUV class. The Freedom Drive II Off- Road Package includes a second-generation continuously variable transaxle with low range (CVT2L) that engages when the off-road mode is activated, 17-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and manual seat height adjuster. The available Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is recommended for moderate off-road situations that include steep grades, occasional wheel lift and moderate rock or log climbing.
All-new Jeep technology includes the CVT2L's best-in-class 19.1:1 low ratio, which is ideal for crawling over obstacles. Off-road Brake Traction Control maintains forward mobility during heavy articulation or on split- friction surfaces where one wheel loses traction. Hill-descent Control modulates brake hydraulic pressure without driver intervention, providing downhill assistance at a safe and controlled rate of speed. Three-mode ESP and off-road anti-lock brakes (ABS) also add to the Patriot's inherent off-road capability.
The Trail Rated Jeep Patriot sits 1 inch higher than non-Trail Rated versions and meets Jeep off-road capability requirements for traction, water fording, articulation, maneuverability and ground clearance, including 9 inches of ground clearance, a 29.6-degree approach angle, a 34.2-degree departure angle and a 23.3-degree breakover angle. This version of the Patriot also has additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents to support 19-inch water fording capability. In fact, the body and chassis of the Jeep Patriot with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Group were developed and tested over numerous rugged off-road terrains to meet the requirements of the enthusiast Jeep customer.
All Jeep Patriot models available in the United States include standard Brake Traction Control, driver-controlled three-mode ESP, Brake Assist, Electronic Roll Mitigation and anti-lock brakes with rough-road detection.
Expanding the Lineup
Jeep Patriot is the gateway to the Jeep brand globally, priced less than Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Liberty. The newest Jeep vehicle on the market is available in Jeep Patriot Sport and Jeep Patriot Limited models. Both are available in the United States with a 4x2 front-wheel drive system, a Freedom Drive I 4x4 system and a Freedom Drive II Off-road Package.
The Jeep Patriot Sport has a starting U.S. MSRP of $14,985. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Sport with the available Freedom Drive I 4x4 system is $16,735. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Sport equipped with the available Freedom Drive II Off-road Package is $19,175. All prices include $560 destination.
The Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2 model has a starting U.S. MSRP of $19,985. A Jeep Patriot Limited with the Freedom Drive I 4x4 system has a starting U.S. MSRP of $21,735. The Jeep Patriot Limited equipped with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package has a starting U.S. MSRP of $23,530. All prices include $560 destination.
Jeep Patriot Sport
With a starting U.S. MSRP of $14,985, the Jeep Patriot Sport is a 4x2 model that includes a standard 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine coupled with a five-speed manual transaxle. Other standard equipment includes side- curtain air bags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Brake Traction Control, Electronic Roll Mitigation, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, Sentry Key theft-deterrent system, Vinyl Tech seats, rear 60/40 fold-flat seat, Ultra Floor vinyl load floor, fold-flat load floor storage, AM/FM single-disc CD radio with an auxiliary audio input jack, outdoor temperature display, rear defroster, variable intermittent windshield wipers, 12-volt power outlet, manual windows, locks and foldaway mirrors, tilt steering wheel, dome and cargo lights, rear window defroster and a center console sliding armrest that moves forward 3 inches to accommodate shorter drivers. The armrest lid features a unique flip pocket for storing a cell phone or an MP3 player.
On the exterior, the Jeep Patriot Sport features a standard body-color grille and fascias, accent-color bodyside molding, black door handles, accent- color liftgate applique, black side roof rails, 16-inch styled steel wheels and all-season tires.
Optional features on Jeep Patriot Sport include a second-generation continuously variable transmission (CVT2), four-wheel-drive capability, through either Freedom Drive I or the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package (which includes CVT2L with low range, a full-size spare tire, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps, cabin air filtration system and manual seat height adjuster), front-seat-mounted side air bags to supplement standard side-curtain air bags, premium cloth low-back bucket seats with YES Essentials® premium seat fabric, air conditioning, engine block heater, AM/FM radio with six-disc CD player and MP3 CD play capability, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, Tire and Wheel Group (which is required with Freedom Drive II and includes 17-inch all- terrain OWL tires and aluminum wheels), Power Equipment Group, (which includes power windows with driver one-touch down feature, power fold-away mirrors, remote keyless entry and speed-sensitive power locks) and a 458-watt nine- speaker Premium Sound Group (which includes six Boston Acoustics speakers with subwoofer and amplifier and two articulating speakers packaged in the liftgate.) When the liftgate is open, the speakers can swing down from the trim panel to face rearward for tailgating and other activities. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder World Engine coupled with CVT2 also is available on front-wheel- drive Jeep Patriot Sport models.
An available Special Equipment Group on the Jeep Patriot Sport model includes air conditioning, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, map and dome reading lamps, removable/rechargeable interior cargo lamp, 115-volt auxiliary power outlet and passenger assist handles, a recline features for standard 60/40 rear seats and a Power Equipment Group (which includes power windows with a driver's one-touch down feature, speed-sensitive power locks, power fold-away exterior mirrors and remote keyless entry). The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Compass Sport 4x2 with this Special Equipment Group is $17,335. The Jeep Compass Sport 4x4 with this Special Equipment Group has a U.S. MSRP $19,085. Both prices include $560 destination.
Available options with Jeep Patriot Sport models with this Special Equipment Group, beyond those available on the Jeep Patriot Sport model, include a Premium Steering Wheel Group (which includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering-wheel audio controls and speed control), heated cloth seats, fog lamps, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, a Popular Equipment Group (which includes a soft tonneau cover, cross bars, automatic-dimming rear-view mirror, Electronic Vehicle Information Center, Universal Garage Door Opener, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and security alarm) and a Trailer Tow Prep Group (which includes engine oil cooler and trailer tow wiring harness).
Jeep Patriot Limited
With a starting U.S. MSRP of $19,985, the standard Jeep Patriot Limited is a 4x2 model that features a 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine coupled with a standard five-speed manual transaxle. An optional CVT2 or an optional CVT2L also are available on the Jeep Patriot Limited. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Limited with the Freedom Drive I is $21,735. The U.S. MSRP for the Jeep Patriot Limited with the Freedom Drive II Off-road Package is $23,530. Both prices include $560 destination.
In addition to the standard equipment on the Jeep Patriot Sport model and the Jeep Sport model with the Special Equipment Group, the Jeep Patriot Limited model features premium leather-trimmed bucket seats, heated front seats, driver's seat manual lumbar adjuster, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, speed control, soft-tonneau cover, security alarm and roof rack with cross bars.
On the exterior, the Jeep Patriot Limited model has body-color fascias with bright silver appliqués, body-color bodyside moldings, fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels and all-season touring tires.
Beyond the options offered on the Jeep Patriot Sport, additional options on the Limited model include a power express open/close sunroof, UConnect Hands-free Communication System, navigation system, removable ash tray and cigar lighter and a Driver Convenience Group (which includes an automatic- dimming rearview mirror, Electronic Vehicle Information Center, Universal Garage Door Opener and Tire Pressure Monitoring System).
Jeep Brand
The Jeep brand's 65-year history of legendary capability has made it synonymous with freedom, adventure, mastery and authenticity. In 2006, the Jeep brand continues to deliver on its promise to provide versatile, innovative four-wheel-drive vehicles with the introduction of the all-new 2007 Jeep Patriot, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Compass.
"The Jeep brand is on a product offensive and will continue to grow with new offerings that leverage Jeep's legendary 4x4 leadership," said John Plecha, Director-Jeep Marketing and Global Communications. "We're solidifying the Jeep brand's foundation with the bigger, more powerful all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler - the most capable off-road vehicle in the world - while stretching the brand to reach new customers with the all-new Jeep Patriot."
Sales of Jeep brand vehicles increased 12 percent in 2005 to their highest total since 2000 to 476,532 units compared with 2004 sales of 427,329 units. The positive sales momentum for the brand has continued this year. Jeep brand sales in November of this year were up 20 percent from November of 2005.
Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant
Production of the all-new 2007 Jeep Patriot will begin at the Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant in the fourth quarter of 2006. Chrysler Group launched a second production shift at the Belvidere facility in March, which doubled the plant's production capacity, and began building all-new Jeep Compass models in May of this year. The addition of the second shift raised total employment at the facility from 1,650 to 2,650 employees.
2007 Jeep Patriot Pricing (All prices include $560 destination.)
4x2 Freedom Drive I 4x4 Freedom Drive II 4x4 Jeep Patriot Sport $14,985 $16,735 $19,175 Jeep Patriot Limited $19,985 $21,735 $23,530
MOTOR AUTHORITY - - Mercedes and Rolls Royce will be vying for attention when both companies launch super-luxury convertibles at the Detroit Auto Show, confirms Automotive News. The Mercedes model will be based on the S-class sedan and will come with a soft-top. Unlike most convertibles, it’ll be able to seat four-people and is supposed to be more luxurious than the sedan upon which it’s based. Sources are reporting it’ll have the same 6.0L V12 as found in the S600 and develop 510hp. Click here for a possible rendering of the S-class convertible by German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.
The Rolls Royce convertible will essentially be a production version of the 100EX shown two years ago. We expect it to be very similar, and retain many of the same styling cues and technology.
When Formula One drivers round Hockenheim or Sepang or Bahrain in 2008, it'll be under the electronic wing of McLaren and Microsoft. As the two companies announced this week -- though the deal's been known since mid-year -- they've jointly bagged the contract to provide engine control units (ECUs) to all F1 teams starting in 2008. The venture's called "Microsoft MES," and it pairs the pasty geeks from Redmond with the 10-intelligence druids from Woking on the systems, which have the potential to gather 1GB of data during a typical Grand Prix run. It'll probably turn out fine, as long as no one winds up sitting on hold with customer support during a late-race shootout. All that faux-pleasantness can break a man's will in 30 seconds. – Mike Spinelli
Reuters / STRASBOURG, France -- All new-model diesel cars must be fitted with a particle filter from mid-2009 under proposals passed by European Union lawmakers today aimed at reducing emissions across the EU.
Under the rules, adopted by the European Parliament and due to be endorsed shortly by EU ministers, new diesel cars of an existing model should be fitted with a particle filter as of January 2011.
The regulation "will not hamper the competitiveness of the EU's car industry," European Enterprise Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said in a statement.
Reduced emissions from road transport are seen as an important factor to improve air quality, particularly because the share of diesel vehicles in the overall sales of light duty vehicles is increasing.
Information on repairs must also be easily available to independent repairers, because according to the new measures, a vehicle's environmental performance cannot be maintained properly without practical access to maintenance information.
Chrysler says the sponsorship coincides with vehicle launches. The automaker is introducing the 2007 Aspen SUV.
Jon Lafayette | | Automotive News / December 11, 2006 - 1:00 am The Chrysler brand is sponsoring Time magazine's "Person of the Year" promotion again this year.
Chrysler executives say the multiplatform advertising package worked well in the partnership's first venture last year.
"It seems to be a program that everyone here loves," says Susan Thomson, the Chrysler brand's manager of global brand communications. "It's a 360-degree program. It covers all media channels and then some."
Besides running ads in Time, Chrysler is working with CNN to promote the event on TV, the Internet and mobile devices. CNN, like Time, is owned by Time Warner.
Chrysler is paying about $5 million for the sponsorship, say people familiar with the deal.
CNN research shows that viewers were deeply engaged with the Chrysler messages during last year's "Person of the Year" promotion, says Greg D'Alba, the cable news channel's COO of advertising sales and marketing.
"They had greater familiarity with Chrysler," D'Alba says. "Chrysler had a higher brand rating (and viewers) had higher purchase intent for Chrysler cars after seeing the campaign."
The Chrysler package reflects auto advertisers' increasing insistence that digital elements accompany their purchases of TV ad time.
Chrysler's Thomson says the "Person of the Year" sponsorship coincides with the automaker's launch schedule.
Chrysler is introducing the redesigned 2007 Sebring mid-sized sedan and is rolling out its first SUV, the 2007 Aspen.
"There's a lot of media" in the promotion, Thomson says. "So we can not only talk about Sebring but showcase other vehicles like the Aspen, the Pacifica and the 300."
Chrysler has bought six ad pages in Time's year-end Person of the Year issue. It will sponsor a Dec. 16 CNN special announcing the magazine's selection. Spots during the broadcast will advertise Chrysler models.
Kathy Jackson | | Automotive News | LOS ANGELES --Mark Barnes, vice president of sales for Hyundai Motor America, left the company today to join DaimlerChrysler's Western region office as a senior sales executive.
Barnes, 47, joined Hyundai in August 2001. The company's sales have soared during his tenure.
Steve Wilhite, Hyundai's chief operating officer since August, said Barnes will be missed.
"Obviously, this is a significant loss to Hyundai," Wilhite said in a statement. "In my brief tenure at Hyundai, I developed a strong appreciation for his leadership values and level of trust he built with our dealers."
Drop of 4.3 million barrels is far more than expected, could convince OPEC to hold off on production cut.
December 13 2006: 10:44 AM EST
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Oil prices rose Wednesday after the government said supplies of crude oil fell far more than expected.
U.S. light crude for January delivery rose 68 cents to $61.70 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil traded up 3 cents just prior to the report's release.
In its weekly inventory report, the Energy Information Administration said crude stocks slid by 4.3 million barrels last week. Analysts were looking for a drop of 600,000 barrels, according to Reuters.
Distillates, used to make heating oil and diesel fuel, fell by 500,000 barrels, while gasoline supplies slipped by 100,000 barrels. Analysts were looking for a 100,000-barrel decline in distillates supplies and a 1.2 million drop in gasoline stockpiles.
Oil prices have fallen more than 25 percent from highs reached in July and have been range-bound near $60 for the past several weeks.
Reuters / December 13, 2006 - 10:00 am | STUTTGART --DaimlerChrysler will not let itself blur the sharp distinctions between its brands and will not enter the market for low-priced cars, its head of corporate development said today.
DaimlerChrysler's auto brands include Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Smart and Maybach.
"We will not use a vehicle platform for several brands" despite pressure to cut costs and boost productivity, Ruediger Grube told a labor union event in Stuttgart.
"A Mercedes will remain a Mercedes and may not share a platform with anyone," he said, for fear its sales and margins would suffer should buyers think they could get basically the same car for less money if sold under a sister brand.
The company, formed by the 1998 merger of Daimler-Benz and Chrysler, must instead seek cost savings from sharing parts such as water pumps that customers will never see or by pooling resources for purchasing or operating data processing systems, he said.
At an earlier industry conference in Frankfurt, he said the group would not venture into offering cheap cars, which analysts say is likely to be the fastest-growing market segment.
Center Line, Mich. — Team Mopar drifter Samuel Hübinette will revisit the site where he clinched his second Formula D championship, as the “Crazy Swede” returns to Southern California’s Irwindale Speedway this weekend for the D1 Grand Prix Series Finals and World All-Star events.
Hübinette secured his second Formula D title in three years in the Formula D “Final Fight,” held at Irwindale, known as the “House of Drift,” in October. His third-place finish in the event earned him the championship after waging a tight, season-long points battle. Hübinette led the series with three wins, and scored five podium finishes out of seven events.
When Hübinette takes the Irwindale track again this weekend for D1GP action in his NuFormz Racing Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10, he’ll face a stellar lineup packed with elite drifters from around the world.
HÜBINETTE IN D1 GRAND PRIX SERIES COMPETITION
Despite only competing in one 2006 D1GP event at Irwindale in March, Hübinette remains among the Top 16 in points, and is the highest ranking American-based driver in the points standings. At the March event, Hübinette finished fourth, the best of any U.S-based entry, and qualified No. 1 out of a field of 58 drifters. The performance was his best ever in D1GP competition, and the “Crazy Swede” is looking for even better results this weekend.
“It would be so important to grab a win,” said Hübinette, who competes with BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDW tires. “These D1GP events have some of the most talented drifters in the world, not only from the U.S. and Japan, but from Europe and points all around the globe. I want to have a good outing, with the help of Mopar, NuFormz Racing and BFG, to show I can compete with the best drifters in the world.”
The Chrysler Group has launched production of the new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab at its Saltillo Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico. The plant takes on production of the new model as part of DaimlerChrysler's Flexible Manufacturing Strategy.
DaimlerChrysler recently invested an additional $48 million into the plant, expanding the facility by 120,000 sq. ft. The expansion allows the plant to produce commercial vehicles and will accommodate new frame configurations.
--------------------
Cummins Inc. is celebrating the shipment of the 1.5 millionth Cummins Turbo Diesel at its MidRange Engine Plant.
When launched in 1988 for the 1989 model year, the company expected to produce only 8,000 of the Cummins Turbo Diesel engines for Chrysler Group's Dodge Brand annually. That number quickly escalated to over 16,000 engines in the first year of production. The growth in diesel engine popularity has continued, with current record levels of production expected to reach over 165,000 engines for 2006.
By Rick Popely and Jim Mateja | Tribune staff reporters - - A year ago, Chrysler Group was riding high, the most profitable and trendiest U.S.-based automaker.
Now it is swimming in the same red ink as its domestic rivals, and its models have gotten long in the tooth, exposing the fragility of a revival based on sex appeal in the competitive auto industry.
While hot stuff draws consumers to the showroom, once the cooling begins, so does buyers' ardor.
"Chrysler tends to keep things too long before they do something new so that, down the road, the buyer is simply asked to buy the same car again," said Lake Forest Chrysler dealer Bill Knauz.
"The public wants something new and different and for their neighbors to see they have a new car and not just another one of the same car," said Knauz.
Sales are down 8.6 percent this year, to 1.79 million vehicles through October at Chrysler Group, the U.S. unit of DaimlerChrysler AG which includes the Dodge and Jeep brands.
Those sagging sales contributed to Chrysler Group's $1.5 billion third-quarter operating loss, in contrast with a $393 million profit the previous year. For the full year, Chrysler expects to swing to a $1.2 billion loss from a $1.8 billion profit in 2005.
"Chrysler sells well when its vehicles are new, but it does a bad job of keeping people interested in its product," said Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research, which surveys monthly about 3,000 consumers shopping for cars.
Consumers who clamor for the latest styling make up 8 percent of buyers, Spinella says, but those who prize reliability and durability represent 45 percent. The latter are more likely to choose Toyotas and Hondas, giving models such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord more staying power in the market.
"It's easy to sell an all-new, edgy design like the [Dodge] Magnum or [Chrysler] 300 for the first six months to those who have to be the first to have something different," Spinella said. "But that's not the mass market. After the initial introduction, the cars tend to fall off the sales charts."
Head-turning styling has helped sell models such as the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Ram pickup. More recently, the Chrysler 300 was a home run, but after nearly three years, sales are down 2 percent this year after rising 27 percent last year.
Sales typically wilt as vehicles age, and that's when automakers roll out incentives, so Chrysler isn't alone.
Nissan North America, which based its recent revival on catchy design, also hit a pothole this year as its products grew stale. Nissan's U.S. sales are off 6 percent.
Spinella says incentive dollars go further at brands like Toyota or Honda, where looks matter less than the reputation for quality.
Case in point: Toyota last redesigned the Corolla in 2002, but sales are up 13 percent this year. Toyota is offering a modest $500 rebate on the Corolla.
Chrysler has the industry's highest incentives, obliterating its slim profit margins, said Burnham Securities analyst David Healy.
"When margins are thin, it doesn't take much change in sales to go into the red," Healy said.
Chrysler's swing into the red comes about a year after Dieter Zetsche left Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., where he had engineered a successful turnaround effort that started in 2001, to become chief executive of parent DaimlerChrysler in Germany.
Chrysler's current CEO, Tom LaSorda, has to present a new turnaround plan to DaimlerChrysler's board in December, raising questions about his future with the company.
"Both LaSorda and Joe Eberhardt (Chrysler's sales chief) are being looked at differently today than they were two months ago," said George Peterson, president of industry forecaster Auto Pacific. "It might be that Eberhardt is at more risk than LaSorda because he's the sales guy."
When blame gets passed around, Peterson thinks Zetsche deserves some of it. Lead times on new products are usually three to four years.
"I don't think the problems were invisible to Dieter. He saw them coming before he left but hoped they wouldn't happen on his shift," he said.
Chrysler also made a misstep when it introduced the Jeep Commander, a large SUV, last year just as gas prices started to rise. Healy says the "unfortunate timing" made Commander "dead on arrival."
Chrysler also waited too long to refresh models such as the Dodge Ram. The full-size pickup is the group's best-seller, Healy said, but was last updated in 2002 and isn't slated to be freshened up until the 2009 model year.
Ram sales fell to 400,000 last year from 449,000 in 2003 and are down 12 percent this year, despite recent $5,000 rebates.
Ram sales could tumble more next year. That's because GM rolled out new full-size pickups this month, and Toyota will do the same in February.
But the Ram isn't the only problem at Dodge, the largest of the three Chrysler Group brands. Dodge sold 1.18 million vehicles last year, nearly 277,000 less than in 2000, the last time Chrysler slipped into a crisis. Sales are down 10 percent this year.
Six years ago, Dodge trailed only Chevrolet and Ford in sales but now is fifth, behind Toyota and Honda as well.
Gas prices and changing consumer tastes have dinged sales of the midsize Dakota pickup, down 27 percent this year, and the Durango sport-utility, down 38 percent.
"That's fair to say, because the segments that have been hit hardest by gas prices, big SUVs and trucks, are what Dodge sells," Jason Vines, Chrysler's vice president of communications, said.
Vines says Dodge will rely more on cars.
The recently introduced Caliber, a compact hatchback, and Charger large sedan are selling well, Vines said, and in the spring Dodge will add the Avenger midsize sedan. Dodge also is expected to get a subcompact car, possibly built in China, though probably not until 2010.
If the Chrysler Group depends on the freshness of its lineup, Vines added, then business should pick up in 2007.
"We should do well because we have the launch of several new 2006 models under our belt and add another seven new products next year," he said, including new versions of the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country mini-vans.
CHRYSLER GROUP 5.7-LETER HEMI AND 3.0-LETER V-6 TURBO DIESEL TAKE TWO SPOTS IN WARD'S 10 BEST ENGINES AWARDS
-- HEMI wins for fifth consecutive year
-- DaimlerChrysler advanced diesel technology recognized by industry experts
-- Both Chrysler Group winning engines available in 2007 Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 12 -- For the fifth year in a row -- and every year since its 2003 re-introduction -- Chrysler Group's famous 5.7-liter HEMI(R) engine has earned a place on Ward's 10 Best Engines list. Joining the HEMI in winning the award is DaimlerChrysler's 3.0-liter V-6 Turbo Diesel, available in the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
"We are pleased that Chrysler Group has delivered two engines among Ward's 10 prestigious winners," said Bob Lee, Vice President -- Powertrain, Chrysler Group. "The HEMI continues to impress as an engine that offers the combination of power and fuel efficiency our customers demand, while the 3.0-liter V-6 CRD Turbo Diesel boasts an unsurpassed blend of acceleration, torque and fuel economy."
First introduced in the 2003 Dodge Ram, the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 achieves power, fuel economy and emissions goals with a design that is elegant and cost effective. The engine is available in the Chrysler 300, Chrysler Aspen, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Ram.
Standard equipment on all 5.7-liter HEMI applications (with the exception of the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500) is Chrysler Group's innovative Multi- displacement System (MDS), which improves fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. MDS seamlessly alternates between smooth, high fuel economy four- cylinder mode when less power is needed, and V-8 mode when more power from the 5.7-liter HEMI engine is in demand.
"There's nothing more American than the V-8, and we think the modern HEMI is the best of the breed," said Bill Visnic, Senior Technical Editor, Ward's AutoWorld. "The HEMI is power-dense, perfectly sized and incorporates sophisticated-yet-straightforward efficiency-enhancing technology to help it stay relevant in a market that is becoming increasingly conscious of fuel economy. But above all else, the HEMI is just plain fun."
A high-performance 6.1-liter version of the HEMI V-8 is offered in many of Chrysler Group's SRT lineup of vehicles, including the Chrysler 300C SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge Magnum SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. The 6.1- liter HEMI features strengthened components -- including a reinforced engine block, forged steel crankshaft and high-strength connecting rods -- and generates additional power with more cubic inches, higher compression ratio, higher engine speed and enhanced engine breathing, courtesy of special cylinder heads and manifolds.
The HEMI V-8 engine is manufactured in Saltillo, Mexico.
Joining the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 on Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2007 is the new 3.0-liter V-6 common-rail diesel (CRD) Turbo Diesel. Available in the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the advanced diesel engine features more torque than most eight-cylinder engines, impressive acceleration and fuel economy that rivals a small six-cylinder gasoline engine.
The Mercedes-built 3.0-liter CRD is one of the most advanced powerplants available in the marketplace today. It is designed to be an efficient, smooth- running engine with up to 30-percent improved fuel economy without sacrificing performance.
Built in Berlin, Germany, the 3.0-liter CRD produces 215 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque.
While going through our inbox this morning, our good friend Brad tipped us off to an article that attempts to answer a question weighing heavily on the minds of potential premium luxury sedan owners across the globe: what vehicle truly is the pinnacle of luxury engineering?
To arrive at the answer, Car and Driver recently took their turn behind the wheel of five of the leading cars in this specific segment: the 2006 Jaguar Super V-8, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550, the 2006 Audi A8L Quattro, the 2007 Lexus LS460L, and finally, the 2006 BMW 750Li, all with the intention of laying to rest once and for all any questions or doubts that you, my affluent readers, may have.
So what, you ask, was the outcome?
Retaining its position high atop its preeminently-crafted perch, the Mercedes S550 once again emerged victorious, further adding to its marked list of accolades.
And while I could dwell on the subject, basking in the glory that can only accompany being crowned king of the premium luxury sedan segment, instead I will take a moment to congratulate the newly-introduced, technology-laden and Consumer Reports-approved Lexus LS460L, which managed to earn not the second... not the third... not even the fourth... but rather, the fifth place spot on the list.
Well done, Lexus; well done.
To learn more, head over to Car and Driver for their full thoughts on each of the aforementioned models.
And to Brand: thanks for the tip my good sir; we sincerely appreciate it.
The lead time represents the estimated order to delivery period under normal conditions and does not take into consideration holds or delays. Extended lead times (when available) are noted under the Key Production Hold or Delay column.
*All models and constraints are for the 2007 MY unless noted otherwise.
Due to various assembly plant assignments for specific model lines or ordered options; the DaimlerChrysler constraints listed below may or may not apply at the time an order is placed.
MODEL
ESTIMATED LEAD TIME IN WEEKS
KEY PRODUCTION
HOLD OR DELAY
Chrysler 300/300C,
Dodge Magnum,
Dodge Charger
8-10
300 and 300C models have a 6-8 week lead time
The following options have a Job #1 of 1/2/07:
(AJM) SRT Design Group
(2DZ) Pkg. w/o (XAA) ParkSense (LXCS48)
(NHP) Adaptive speed control has a Job #1 of 1/8/07
(29R) Heritage Group has a Job #1 of 1/17/07 (LXCS48)
(PJV+29R) Cognac Crystal paint with 29R Pkg. has a Job #1 of 2/1/07
(27P) Pkg. is on hold
Chrysler Pacifica
8-10
AWD models have a 10-12 week lead time
(29P) Pkg. has a Job #1 of 2/1/07
(XAC) Parkview rear backup camera w/o (JRC) power liftgate is on hold
Chrysler PT Cruiser
6-8
None
Chrysler Sebring Sedan
18-20
(RER) AM/FM CD MP3 navigation radio has a Job #1 of 1/26/07
(XWS) Driver sunglass holder has a Job #1 of 1/24/07
(PV6) Sunburst Orange paint has a Job #1 of 1/29/07
(XRV) Rear seat video system has a Job #1 of 2/26/07
Dodge Caliber
16-18
Caliber R/T AWD models have a 20-22 week lead time
(CJ1) Front seat side airbags have a Job #1of 1/29/07
Jeep Compass
14-16
Compass FWD models have a 16-18 week lead time
(ECN) 2.0L engine has a Job #1 of 12/4/06 (MKTH49)
(CJ1) Front seat-mounted side airbags have a Job #1 of 1/29/07
2007* DaimlerChrysler Trucks
RED Indicates changed or new information
The lead time represents the estimated order to delivery period under normal conditions and does not take into consideration holds or delays. Extended lead times (when available) are noted under the Key Production Hold or Delay column.
*All models and constraints are for the 2007 MY unless noted otherwise.
Due to various assembly plant assignments for specific model lines or ordered options; the DaimlerChrysler constraints listed below may or may not apply at the time an order is placed.
MODEL
ESTIMATED LEAD TIME IN WEEKS
KEY PRODUCTION
HOLD OR DELAY
ChryslerTown & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan/Caravan
8-10
(29P) Pkg. has a Job #1 of 12/22/06 (RSKH53 and RSYP53)
Dodge Dakota
8-10
(DMH) 3.92 rear axle ratio w/o (DSA) limited slip differential has a Job #1 of 1/17/07
(DHU) Shift-on-the-Fly FT transfer case has a Job #1 of 1/31/07
(DHV) Shift-on-the-Fly FT transfer has a build out date of 1/31/07
Dodge Durango
8-10
(XBM) Remote starter system has a Job #1 of 12/11/06
(MRR) Accent color running boards w/ (2TF) Pkg. has a Job #1 of 12/11/06
(ANR) Night Runner Group Job #1 12/11/06
(TVC) P265/50R20 AS tires have a Job #1 of 1/29/07
(TV9) P265/50R20 AS tires are on hold
(MRK) Tubular side steps with (2TF) Pkg. are no longer available for ordering
Dodge Aspen
8-10
(TVC) P265/50R20 AS tires have a Job #1 of 1/29/07
(TV9) P265/50R20 AS tires are on hold
Dodge Nitro
6-8
Nitro 4x4 models have a 10-12 week lead time
(RER) AM/FM CD MP3 Navigation Radio has a Job #1 of 1/29/07
(DHZ) Full-time 4WD w/ (EGS) 4.0L V6 engine has a Job #1 of 7/10/07
(WP2) 20” Chrome clad aluminum wheels w/o (ASU) R/T Group Job #1 is TBD
Dodge Ram Pickup DR 1500, 2500, 3500 and Mega Cab
8-10
Ram 1500 4x2 and 2500 4x4 models have a 6-8 week lead time
(TXE) LT265/70R17E BSW tires have a Job #1 of 12/11/06
(BAJ) 220 amp alternator has a Job #1 of 12/13/06
(ETJ) 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engine has a Job #1 of 1/15/07
(ETJ) 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engine w/ (XBC) pickup box delete has a Job #1 of 3/5/07
(ETH) 5.9L HO Cummins Turbo Diesel engine w/(NBA) Underground Calibration has a Job #1 of 2/7/07
(LBN + DG3) Power take off has a Job #1 of 2/12/07
(AR9) Single Rear Wheel Group with (SKS/SKT) heavy duty front springs has a Job #1 of 3/1/07
Jeep Grand Cherokee
8-10
Grand Cherokee 4x2 models have a 10-12 week lead time
(EXL) 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine has a Job #1 of 1/15/07
(AMA) Premium sound w/ (JPM) heated seats and w/ (JPR) 8-way power driver seat has a Job #1 of 2/1/07
(PXR) Black paint has a Job #1 of 2/26/07
(PX8) Black paint has a Job #1 of TBD
(TBB) Full-size spare has a Job #1 of 3/8/07
Jeep Commander
8-10
Commander 4x2 models have a 16-18 week lead time
(AGS) Sun & Sound Group w/ (JPM) heated seats w/ 8-way power driver seat has a Job #1 of 2/1/07
(PXR) Black paint has Job #1 of 2/26/07
(PX8) Black paint has a Job #1 of TBD
(WPN) Platinum aluminum wheels have a Job #1 of 3/12/07
(AJP) Power Convenience Group is on hold
Jeep Liberty
6-8
Liberty 4x2 models have an 8-10 week lead time
Jeep Wrangler
12-14
(RER) Navigation radio has a Job #1 of 12/18/06
(SHG) Electronic front sway bar w/o Rubicon model has a Job #1 of 1/8/07
(GWK) Sunrider soft top with 2-Door has a Job #1 of 1/17/07
Associated Press |By VERENA VON DERSCHAU 12.12.06, 11:13 AM ET
The Airbus A380 received certification from European and U.S. aviation authorities Tuesday, clearing its last official hurdle before the first 555-seater superjumbo is scheduled to be delivered to Singapore Airlines Ltd. next October.
Officials from the European Aviation Safety Agency and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration signed airworthiness certificates for the much-delayed plane at a ceremony at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, southern France.
Although the A380's clearance for commercial takeoff offered some much-needed good news for Airbus - which has fallen behind rival Boeing (nyse: BA - news - people ) Co. on orders this year - the celebration in Toulouse was dampened by developments in Paris.
Police in the French capital searched the headquarters of Airbus parent EADS and one of its main shareholders, stepping up their investigation into insider dealing linked to the A380 delays. Investigating magistrates Philippe Courroye and Xaviere Simeoni led the searches at the offices of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. and Lagardere SCA, said judicial officials who asked not to be named, citing French rules on the confidentiality of investigations.
Paris prosecutors opened an investigation last month into possible insider dealing in EADS shares, five months after it emerged that Noel Forgeard, the defense group's ousted co-chief executive, and dozens of his former colleagues sold off stock in the weeks before the company ordered an internal study of the A380 delays. Lagardere and Germany's DaimlerChrysler AG (nyse: DCX - news - people ) also announced they were reducing their EADS stakes at around the same time.
EADS shares lost more than a quarter of their value in one day after the production problems were announced June 13. Investigators from France's Financial Markets Authority opened their own investigation and carried out searches at EADS and Airbus offices later the same month.
The A380's certification completes a test-flight program in which five A380 planes have notched up 2,600 flight hours since the closely watched first flight in April last year.
In the final phase of the program last month, an A380 completed 70,000 nautical miles (128,000 kilometers) of so-called "route proving" - a series of long-haul flights with short stopovers, designed to simulate airline operations in extreme conditions. The exercise took the plane to 10 airports in the Asia-Pacific region and included takeoffs and landings at high-altitude and snowbound runways.
Airbus has fallen behind Boeing on orders after leading every year since 2001, and its market share by value also has fallen further in 2006 - after slipping to 45 percent last year from 54 percent in 2004 - as Boeing's 777 and planned 787 mid-sized planes steadily eclipsed the older, less fuel-efficient Airbus A330 and A340.
The accumulated delays to the A380, totaling two years, have wiped euro4.8 billion (US$6.3 billion) off forecast EADS profits - a figure that includes estimates for the compensation paid to angry customers. FedEx Corp. (nyse: FDX - news - people ), the world's largest express transportation company, last month canceled its order for 10 A380s, and Airbus said Dec. 4 that further cancellations were still possible.
EADS shares were little changed at euro24.18 (US$31.86) in Paris trading.
