by Bob Walsh
I remember when Chrysler and Fiat got together. I voiced serious concerns about it. Fiat does not have the best reputation in the world for solid engineering and reliability, at least in this country. (F I A T Fix It Again Tony)
So now Fiat-Chrysler and Peugot are getting together on a 50-50 deal. This will create the world's fourth-largest auto producer, for as long as it lasts. In all honesty, the only thing I remember about Peugot is that they used to make a very solid, very plain, diesel powered sedan that did not sell as well as the Mercedes. A girl I knew in high school drove one to school. Also at one time the wheels on them were not pierced in the center so you could not use a tire machine to change the tires on the wheels. That has probably changed, I hope.
They still have not come up with an acceptable name for the new company. They new blended monstrosity hopes to save 3.7 billion Euros a year in human costs and by non-duplication of this and that. Even though it is suppose to be a 50-50 deal Peugot has one extra seat on the board and a Peugot guy will be the head of the new group.
Peugot sells mostly small and medium size passenger vehicles and has virtually zero dealer presence in the U.S. None of the brands has a significant presence in China, the largest expanding car market in the world right now.
The new company will, at least theoretically, run behind VW, Renault-Nissan and Toyota in revenue. Too bad revenue and profits are not the same thing.
(I wonder what ever became of the attempt to revive the MG name plate. The Chinese were supposed to try it in a highly automated plant in the U.S.)
1 comment:
I bought a 1957 MG-B for $300 back in high school. Neat car. My Dad showed me how and helped me Tape, Bondo, sand and paint it bright yellow in the shed. That's when you could buy lacquer paint and a cheap compressor and spray gun for cheap. I remember wanting to take a short cut on some hidden body work. I told my Dad nobody could see it. He had a Parliament cigarette hanging from his mouth and said, "Yeah, you can't see it, but you know it's there." We fixed it. I'm in my mid 60's now. That's how much of an impact it made on me. Drove it around and doubled my money in a short time.
I miss those times.
Post a Comment