Chrysler Vehicle List Says Goodbye to the Dodge Dart & Chrysler 200
Chrysler Vehicle List Says Goodbye to the Dodge Dart & Chrysler 200
Posted on February 3, 2016
2016 has been a year of big news for Fiat Chrysler America, but the latest announcement may bring a sense of disappointment for fans of their compact and mid-sized vehicle lineup: the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 have been axed from the Chrysler vehicle list as part of their recently released and revised business plan. CEO Sergio Marchionne announced in January that the company will stop making these models in the near future to create space for the production of more popular vehicles.
Why Say Goodbye?
This big move is a response to the increasing market demand for SUVs and trucks. FCA sees this as a permanent shift, with more and more customers purchasing utility vehicles and pickups. Whether this demand is driven by lower gas prices or just consumer trends, one thing is clear: Fiat Chrysler is looking to produce more of these extremely popular and profitable vehicles, and building new production plants is not an option.
As Chrysler’s Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 become phased out of production, more room will be made for Fiat Chrysler America to manufacture Jeep and Ram vehicles at the plants where these models were produced, in Sterling Heights, MI, and Belvidere, IL.
Will There Be Another Sedan in the Dodge/Chrysler Vehicle List?
Since sales of both the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 ultimately failed to meet initial targets, many experts are unsurprised that they’re being phased out. Combined sales of both models at Chrysler car dealerships in December 2015 were just 15,310. In comparison, during the same time period, the Jeep outsold the sedans with 24,049 sales.
However, there still may be room for a sedan in the FCA lineup – rumour has it that they will be seeking out new partnership opportunities to produce compact and mid-size sedans rather than build them on their own. Fiat Chrysler America recently partnered with Mazda to build the Fiat 124 Spider. Some sources also say that FCA may keep these vehicles in their lineup, turning to other automakers to produce the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart on their behalf.
Will you miss the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200? If you’re a fan, there’s still plenty of time to get into a new vehicle at your Edmonton Chrysler dealer. Crosstown Chrysler Jeep Dodge is your Alberta Chrysler Dealer for new and pre-owned Chrysler & Dodge models! Visit our showroom today or give us a call to learn more about any of our featured vehicles.