“We’re in a wait and see mode for China right now”, said Akshay Anand, a market analyst with Kelley Blue Book. He told Automotive News that the only way to keep the Wrangler in Toledo would be to move it into the space now occupied by the Cherokee.
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CEO Sergio Marchionne has been in talks for almost a year with the United Auto Workers to negotiate keeping Wrangler production at the Toledo plant, which was established in 1910 by Willys-Overland and has assembled Jeeps since they were introduced in the 1940s.
LMC and IHS Automotive do not now forecast the Cherokee moving out of Toledo. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
The automaker and UAW now are negotiating a new contract as the current four-year pact expires mid-month.
Fiat Chrysler merging with General Motors can reportedly come up with $30 billion in cash per year.
When asked by Automotive News if all of this was headed toward some attempt at a hostile takeover of GM – which is valued at more than $46 billion, compared to FCA’s less than $19 billion – Marchionne replied in a matter that characterizes the outspoken CEO.
But so far, GM has declined this physical contact. “They won’t listen and that kind of abject refusal to engage – the capital markets won’t understand why you are rejecting the discussion”, he said.
Barra has refused to meet with Marchionne despite his nearly “hostile” persistence, according to Fortune.
Jeep in recent years has played with the idea of a Jeep pickup through concept models. For the Jeep Easter Safari in Moab back in 2009, the company rolled out the JT concept, getting everyone excited again.
For the updated 3.6-litre motor, the company has added a new intake manifold with longer runners, increased the compression ratio to 11.3:1 from 10.2:1, installed new eight-hole fuel injectors and high-tumble intake ports, and reduced friction.
The company said information about whether a vehicle is eligible could be obtained by entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at the sites – MyJeepAuto.com, Recalls.mopar.com and Safercar.gov.
Over and over, Jeep fans have been teased with the concept of having a pickup truck that’s based on the Wrangler. “It does likely need to be four seats, four doors”. However, the automaker wants to sell up to 350,000 Wranglers globally each year.
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Ram pickup sales rose 6% in August to 45,310 units, after posting a 1% year-over-year sales increase in July.
