FCA's 5-Year Plan Focuses on Ram and Jeep
By Aaron Bragman
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles today released the company's next five-year business plan at an event in Balocco, Italy, a tradition started by FCA Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne 14 years ago. The idea is to give the world — and financial markets — guidance about the company's future goals. Reports filtering out from the event show that the company plans to focus its attention on the four brands that comprise most of its current and future profits. This means major investment in both technology and product for Ram, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
Ram: Production Rebel TRX, New Global Mid-Size Truck
For truck enthusiasts, Ram and Jeep news are the big stories. The 2016 Ram 1500 Rebel TRX concept — the Hellcat-powered Ford F-150 Raptor fighter that Ram showed at the 2016 Texas State Fair — is headed for production. The concept made 575 horsepower from its detuned, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine, but had all the requisite off-road goodies to allow it to blitz over any terrain at top speed, just like a Raptor. The truck featured a coil-link rear suspension and internal bypass shocks, steel bumpers front and rear, suede seats with six-point racing harnesses and more. FCA says that the Rebel TRX will see showrooms by 2022 at the latest.
Ram is apparently also developing a new global mid-size truck as well, which is meant to compete with the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma and the revived U.S. Ford Ranger slated for 2019. The company did not say whether the Dakota name would be revived, from when Dodge sold a mid-size pickup. Fiat would also get a version of the truck to sell globally, according to reports.
Finally, the next-generation 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks are set to debut at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in January in Detroit.
Jeep Gets Electrified, Adds New Models
Jeep will focus on product expansion and electrification. FCA said that it wants Jeep to account for 20 percent of all utility vehicles sold globally by 2022, a tall order in any market environment. To do that, it will need more models, which it plans to bring by expanding into the A segment (smaller than a subcompact) globally, as well as adding new models in North America. We'll see a three-row version of the next Grand Cherokee, and the return of the big Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models to sit atop the Jeep lineup. The Desert Hawk trim level will appear in the first quarter of 2020, gracing the Cherokee at first. The trim is meant to allow for high-speed desert running through sand by meeting eight unspecified desert-related engineering qualifications, according to the Jeep presentation.
Electrification also will be the focus at Jeep, with each nameplate in the lineup offering an electrified version by 2021. There will be 10 plug-in-hybrids and four fully electric models in the Jeep lineup, according to Jeep head Mike Manley, as reported by Automotive News (subscription required). Included in those models could be versions of a fully electric Renegade, Compass and Cherokee, and maybe even a Wrangler.
Beyond that, Jeep also plans to offer a subscription-based service, wherein subscribers sign up for a tier-based monthly fee and can get access to FCA vehicles, depending on which level they've chosen. Jeep is also planning to run a pilot program for "borrowing" vehicles based on "coins" that one earns through purchasing a product and other means. If you buy a Wrangler or a "Hawk" model (such as a Trailhawk, Trackhawk or Desert Hawk), you earn coins to use against borrowing another model in the lineup; you can purchase more coins as needed to maintain access as well. That program is slated to have a trial in the northeastern U.S. market next year, while the subscription service is set to go nationwide then as well.
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Comments
I love this story, but my goodness, did it really take THIS LONG for FCA to smell the bleepin' coffee?
Does anything in all of corporate business management move SLOWER than decision-making at the Big 3? It's like watching the glaciers melt.
Ford is still desperately clinging to the Obama-era CAFE foolishness, and GM will no doubt copy whatever misguided product decisions Ford makes about FE during the next few years.
It's almost bad enough to make me want a Tundra.
The 2022 Tundra will be my next truck.
As the former member of the big 3 who is unable to stand on its own its natural to focus on trucks and SUVs in the US market. Like the other 2 current members of the "big 3" Fiat has proven incapable of consistently providing small and mid sized quality cars/crossovers at a profit that are competitive with other (usually Japanese) competitors. The strategy of "since we SUCK at cars and don't make any money on them anyway lets just build trucks" only works for as long as the economy is good, and or fuel prices are low. When those things don't happen if youre (now) Fiat or GM or whine and cry for some government cheese (lying about it being a loan) or if youre Ford you mortgage EVERYTHING (while you can before the coming crisis) and still not understand the value of building quality, desierable, profitable small/midsized cars.
So sad. Its still "business" as usual in old "Detroit" no matter how many promising false starts or times they lie about it not being so.
RAM is a joke. It took them this long to decide to make a competitor to the Raptor. And it won't come out till 2022.
Does RAM like just giving sales/money to Ford?
It better blow the Raptor out of the water for taking this long to make.
If not its just another sad RAM
Junk!!! NO truck can compare to the MIGHTY THE FORD RAPTOR F THE DODGE RAM.
Junk!!! NO truck can compare to the MIGHTY THE FORD RAPTOR F THE DODGE RAM.
THE FORD RAPTOR IS PURE JUNK, THE MIGHTY RAM WILL KILL IT.
EVEN THE COLORADO ZR2 CAN WHIP THE RAPTORS BUTT.
HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA...........
No kidding, rumors were Chrysler was going to DIE, but this not the case. The bread winner clearly is JEEP, just now you want to expand. Dude, you're a bit late, but better than now then never.
Make the Jeep better.
GM wheel wells. Fuel prices to increase...electric coming.
Actually Mr. Jim, GM is one of the slowest of the big 5. They are always laggin behind.
My issue with Ram-Jeep is the local dealer has the worst reputation in town.
Yes! there are other dealers but I don't want to drive 40 miles away to depend on for my service needs.
My issue with Ram-Jeep is the local dealer has the worst reputation in town.
Yes! there are other dealers but I don't want to drive 40 miles away to depend on for my service needs.
Posted by: Ecoboost Rules | Jun 1, 2018 2:29:20 PM
and that's why i drive a Ford, only dealership in town that's worth a dam
Actually Mr. Jim, GM is one of the slowest of the big 5. They are always laggin behind...Posted by: TNT | Jun 1, 2018
That's fine. Why don't you rank the automakers according to YOUR opinion of the most progressive, and the biggest laggard.
Actually Mr. Jim, GM is one of the slowest of the big 5. They are always laggin behind...Posted by: TNT | Jun 1, 2018
That's fine. Why don't you rank the automakers according to YOUR opinion of the most progressive, and the biggest laggard.
"My issue with Ram-Jeep is the local dealer has the worst reputation in town. Yes! there are other dealers but I don't want to drive 40 miles away to depend on for my service needs."
--- The best CJD dealers seem to be the ones not associated with multi-brand franchises.
I don't get, why you base your truck purchase on dealer reputation. I've seen dealer once. The day I picked my RAM.
RAM
If you don't have the dealer doing the service (oil changes) by the book then you can kiss your warranty goodbye
plus my Ford Dealer only charges me $31 for an oil change, that's less than buying the oil and filter and doing it yourself
plus my local Ford Dealer has a luxurious waiting room with free coffee, donuts and pizza
I own two Ford F-150 “s and have been to all four ford dealers in town, (Tulsa,OK) for service. Let me tell you, it makes u wanta buy a Toyota. The service is PATHETIC! Walmart would be better. Incompetence is the write word.
I don't get, why you base your truck purchase on dealer reputation. I've seen dealer once. The day I picked my RAM.
Posted by: RAM | Jun 1, 2018
Agree completely.
It's about the personnel. Culture comes second, but without the right people in management the culture, the advertising and the showroom won't matter much.
Of course the main focus will be Jeep. It will bring in the most money when the company folds and sells off its bits a pieces.
"The concept made 575 horsepower from its detuned, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine, but had all the requisite off-road goodies to allow it to blitz over any terrain at top speed, just like a Raptor."
Unlike the Raptor with its toothpic frames that would bend. lol
the 5 link rear suspension on the Ram is better suited for off road than a leaf spring rear on your Raptor. Sure it will spank a Raptor just like the Ram Runner kit from Mopar. lol
GUTS
GLORY
CLASS LEADING RAM
CLASS LEADING JEEP
@ecoboost
Who told you that? A Ford dealer ? It's complete lie.
Check this out. Classleading performance with a new mill from Cummins with CGI in the block. In production soon at Tupy
Ram HD will take sales from the others.
https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/2020-ram-cummins-to-get-a-cgi-block.482/
FCA's 10 year plan is to get people's hopes up and delay, delay, delay.
True FCA is late to spending more money on Ram to develop new products but at least they are doing it. I disagree with the decision to develop new models for Alfa Romeo instead of spending those resources on Ram and Jeep but that is history. FCA will get a better return on their investment with Jeep and Ram. FCA needs to improve their quality. I do agree with FCA's decision to let Chrysler die and to make Dodge the performance brand. As for Fiat the sooner it leaves the US the better. Fiat is just draining precious resources from FCA. FCA is now on the right track concentrating their resources on Jeep and Ram.
FCA ran out of money before they could even update the 2019 1500's engine lineup. It was VERY disappointing when they revealed an all new Ram 1500 with the same old 5.7 and 3.6. The hybrids don't count.
GM wheel wells. Fuel prices to increase...electric coming.
Posted by: budsy47 | Jun 1, 2018 12:28:14 PM
GM wheel wells? You're obviously a kid that doesn't remember a time when Dodges didn't have rainbow wheel wells like Ford trucks.
TNT, I always give opinions and no facts to back them up, I am asking you to please provide your opinion on auto rankings.
FCA has become the US end of Fiat, with emphasis on RAM and Jeep that primarily sell in NA.
In Europe emphasis is going to be on Lancaster and Maserati under FCA
Ferrari has been spun off as a seperate company
Fiats Agriculure and Truck divisions are combined in another seperate company
Should be Lancia instead of lancaster
@Robt Ryan
Should be "separate" instead of seperate...
"True FCA is late to spending more money on Ram to develop new products but at least they are doing it. I disagree with the decision to develop new models for Alfa Romeo instead of spending those resources on Ram and Jeep but that is history."
posted by Jeff s.
It is all federal madated MPG. They need to balance their load.
FCA ran out of money before they could even update the 2019 1500's engine lineup. It was VERY disappointing when they revealed an all new Ram 1500 with the same old 5.7 and 3.6. The hybrids don't count.
Posted by: Brick | Jun 3, 2018 11:37:51 PM
Compared to what? 5.7 L Hemi is a great proven truck and car engine. Guess you dont have the pleasure of owning one.
“Should be "separate" instead of seperate”
I know but the memory on the pad brings up discarded words or incorrect ones. Good to know people are reading
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