PT Cruiser Gets Stay of Execution

[TexasPriest]

Chrysler's PT keeps cruising | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Chrysler's PT keeps cruising
Scott Burgess / The Detroit News

The Chrysler PT Cruiser should be history.

But the new Chrysler Group LLC has given the retro-styled car a last-minute reprieve.

Chrysler Group chief spokesman Gualberto Ranieri confirmed Monday that Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne, who also is CEO of Fiat SpA, said the company will keep building the PT Cruiser.

Chrysler had announced earlier this year that it would discontinue it this summer. Now, the assembly plant in Toluca, Mexico, will keep churning them out.

Jim Hall, an auto analyst at 2953 Analytics in Birmingham, said continuing the PT Cruiser makes sense, even with its poor overall sales performance.

The company sold 50,910 last year.

Sales peaked in 2001 at 144,717.

Analysts said the decision to keep building it was a good one.

"The PT Cruiser is a car that is selling even without marketing," Hall said.

"The labor costs are cheap and the tooling is paid off."

Karl Brauer, editor and chief of the automotive research Web site Edmunds.com, added, "Every PT Cruiser Chrysler sells ... is pure profit."

The car will likely stay in production through 2011, Hall said, until Fiat vehicles are ready for production in North America.

Chrysler planned to end production of the PT Cruiser because redesigning it would cost too much, Hall said.

Additionally, retro-themed cars are extremely difficult to redesign.

Brauer said the change of heart came after Chrysler entered bankruptcy and emerged in a partnership with Fiat, the Italian automaker that has management control of the company.

"Chrysler is in bridge mode," Brauer said. "Fiat can't do anything immediately, and in the meantime, this car will make Chrysler money."

[CREWZIN]

Thanks. Wonder if FIAT will keep it going after that?

[THS_Cruiser03]

ALL-RIGHT FIAT!

I knew that merger was going to be better for Chrysler than they realize!

I was hoping there would be some mention of the "Pt Cruiser Petitiion" in the article, but hey I'm glad she's going to keep cruisn' for another two model years at least!

I wonder if it will basically remain unchanged or if they will be offering any other versions of the car...?

This has me thinking about buying another one! My wife and I joked about having his & hers Pt's when we bought our '03. Might be time for that...

Tom

[TexasPriest]

Originally Posted by THS_Cruiser03

ALL-RIGHT FIAT!

I knew that merger was going to be better for Chrysler than they realize!

I was hoping there would be some mention of the "Pt Cruiser Petitiion" in the article, but hey I'm glad she's going to keep cruisn' for another two model years at least!

I wonder if it will basically remain unchanged or if they will be offering any other versions of the car...?

This has me thinking about buying another one! My wife and I joked about having his & hers Pt's when we bought our '03. Might be time for that...

Tom

One of the reasons they are keeping it is because the tooling is paid off and each PT sold is profit. They are not gonna sink one more dime in the the design of the PT.

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by TexasPriest

The company sold 50,910 last year.


"The PT Cruiser is a car that is selling even without marketing," Hall said.

AND - that's after killing the convertible and the GT!

[Mean Green]

This is old news.

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

This is old news.

MG,
First time most of us have heard about the production going thru 2011. Last news was 2010 would be last.

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

MG,
First time most of us have heard about the production going thru 2011. Last news was 2010 would be last.

December of 2010 will be the last of production and I'm sure there will still be cars to sell in 2011.

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

December of 2010 will be the last of production and I'm sure there will still be cars to sell in 2011.

Sure there will still be cars to sell that were made earlier but this makes it sound like you can still order a new one with your particular options off the production line in 2011.

[Knotsobright1]

We have a Chrysler plant here and my neighbor works there and says since Fiat took over they have been calling a lot of people back to work. Um yes Fiat I'll take my next PT with a Ferrari engine please.