Who Will Buy CJDR?

[TinMan2020]

September 2024 vs previous September numbers is concerning.

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[DieselDave98]

Despite the recent management shakeup at Stellantis, and CEO Taveres statement that he will leave in 2026, who do you think will buy the assets of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge & Ram if they are to be divested by Stellantis?

 

[DieselDave98]

September 2024 vs previous September numbers is concerning.

Walter Chryslers grandson tried to buy it and they said ...NO

 

[MudderNuker]

I hope GM buys Jeep and dribbles the LT formally LS platform into the JL/JT

LZO diesel or the Turbomax would be nice on the JT.

 

[BourbonRunner]

I doubt VW has the cash right now, after Diesel-gate they had to scrap their entire development plan and shift to quickly making EVs to satisfy their settlement. They also don't have the cash reserves they used to because they had to pay (checks notes) $14.7 Billion USD in fines - and that was just in the US.

That was then, this is now. Hindsight being 20/20 they had to more or less scrap the TDI (shameful IMO given the EPA-cooked emissions levels were not realistic anyway but I digress) and go full bore into BEV that has become a net positive for the company. They cut hard and emerged much leaner and in a better position for future BEV market growth.

In 2023 VW Group posted a 22B Euro profit last year on sales of 322B Euro per the Google machine. Granted, this year is down but they're still one of the world's largest auto manufacturers. Their most recent forecast was a reduction of profits from 7%+ to about 5.6%. That's still hugely profitable given the scale.

Walter Chryslers grandson tried to buy it and they said ...NO

They didn't just say no, they yeeted his offer soon as it was received. Thing is, Rhodes' offer wasn't remotely realistic. His experience running a large business, let alone a multi-national multi billion dollar outfit was nil. He didn't have any financial backing. He didn't present a management team or outline of how he would operate. Instead, it it pandered to the nostalgia of Walter P's era. Romantic, sure but not any way, shape or form realistic.

Fact is, the chances of Stellantis giving Rhodes's offer a serious look are as likely as Scarlett Johansen stopping by my house today, telling my better half to bug off, and then fellating me until Election Day while I dine on grass fed steaks, bourbon and B12 shots.

 

[shawnebell]

They will either survive or they won't.
There have been more failed car companies than prosperous ones in this country.

Just in my lifetime, Plymouth, Pontiac, Mercury, Oldsmobile, DeLorean, AMC, Dodge cars, Chrysler anything but minivan. Before that there are countless more.

In an open, free market, we the consumer decide what is good and what is not.

Willys-Overland
Willys Motors
Kaiser Motors
Kaiser Jeep
American Motors Corp.
AMC-Renault
Chrysler Corporation
DaimlerChrysler AG
Cerberus Capital Management LP
Chrysler Group LLC
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Stellantis

Jeep has always survived.

 

[yoda13]

September 2024 vs previous September numbers is concerning.

I agree that they are very concerning. Their UAW contracts stipulate it’s made through 2028, I believe. After that, if things don’t turn around, I would agree that it is likely gone.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Willys-Overland
Willys Motors
Kaiser Motors
Kaiser Jeep
American Motors Corp.
AMC-Renault
Chrysler Corporation
DaimlerChrysler AG
Cerberus Capital Management LP
Chrysler Group LLC
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Stellantis

Jeep has always survived.

The common denominator in all of the above was Jeep was the Most Valuable Asset and what the acquiring outfit desired most. Anything else that came with Jeep was excess baggage either out of the gate or over time.

 

[BourbonRunner]

I’ll add:

Jeep is/was MVP. Ram trucks were the other big profit center.

Separating it from Dodge gave it autonomy and its own market value should the SHTF corporately.

 

[Remy_Dog]

As @DieselDave98 pointed out earlier, Walter Chrysler’s grandson Frank B Rhodes tried to buy at least Chrysler and Dodge but Stellantis said “no.”

Someone mentioned BYD but I believe Congress already negated that idea.

 

[BourbonRunner]

So... I've been saying VW could buy Jeep. I was wrong. They don't need it.

I just watched the Scout debut video.

And put down $100 to hold a Traveler.

 

[ourjeeps]

That was then, this is now. Hindsight being 20/20 they had to more or less scrap the TDI...

In 2023 VW Group posted a 22B Euro profit last year on sales of 322B Euro per the Google machine. Granted, this year is down but they're still one of the world's largest auto manufacturers. Their most recent forecast was a reduction of profits from 7%+ to about 5.6%. That's still hugely profitable given the scale.

They didn't just say no, they yeeted his offer soon as it was received. Thing is, Rhodes' offer wasn't remotely realistic. His experience running a large business, let alone a multi-national multi billion dollar outfit was nil. He didn't have any financial backing. He didn't present a management team or outline of how he would operate. Instead, it it pandered to the nostalgia of Walter P's era. Romantic, sure but not any way, shape or form realistic...

It's encouraging to see so many folks engage in "higher level thought" on issues beyond day-to-day thoughts. Tradition and history are things that are infrequently discussed these days... said the old military veteran(s)...

Posting this with the hope this forum thread from late 2004 stays alive, as American auto manufacturing begins a rebirth. With some good fortune, some positive news could develop for the future of CJDR brands, including the iconic Jeep and the Gladiator, beyond the current Stellantis issues.

*** Jeep/Willys vehicles have a rich national and military heritage. The 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII was last week May 7th, 2025 (Germany signed the unconditional (WWII) surrender of its forces on May 7, 1945 at Reims, France).

*** Folks on this and other forums, have voiced concern about the long term future of the Jeep brand, and more specifically for this forum, the Gladiator model, conjectured to possibly end 2028(ish...). We have a classic 4WD diesel Excursion, '75 CJ-5 AMC304, etc. so we know about models/brands ending. Also had to sell two VW TDi diesels (great vehicles/engines) for logistics/ sustainment concerns related to their discontinuance.

*** As you mention, the Rhodes family offer for CJDR wasn't developed fully/sufficiently to even begin to be considered by the global, corporate world. The April 2009 Fiat/Chrysler merger and associated Chrysler Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, as part of the US auto industry bailout, set up the eventual, and troubled Stellantis ownership of CJDR (see the Sept 2024 Gladiator production numbers chart in this thread... We did what we could to help, and bought a '24 JTRX).
*** Your mention the VW TDi debacle resonates. We owned/enjoyed two TDi 4-cyl diesel powered vehicles during the big VW push to make diesel powered sedans a significant part of the USA auto market in the 2010's. Amazing engines, out West you could legally cruise at 80 mph, get 40 mpg, and enjoy the torque/performance of a V-6 from a modern 4-cyl diesel engine, without excessive emission components (SCR (DEF) was in the process of being added). We sold those TDi vehicles ONLY for logistics/ sustainment reasons (elimination from in US market place).

*** You later mentioned the follow-on of the iconic American International Harvester Scout.... The VW Scout EV/ Hybrid EV (South Carolina facility) is an interesting development (you later mentioned) projected to reach 200,000 vehicles output annually. Range of the Hybrid to be ~500+ miles. If they can avoid premium EV pricing, they may catch on. We're admittedly NOT huge EV fans, electric golf carts we've had were ALL PITAs (not the bread), our 25yo Yamaha gasser, is alternately is a reliable gem that just keeps on going!

See this March 2025 update on their new SC plant... https://blog.scoutmotors.com/march-2025-scout-motors-production-center-update/

Also additional item on this on Scout... "VW Coming Scout Pickup and SUV will Be Hardworking Beasts. Scout needs to avoid premium EV pricing (un-profitable for 15 years, turned profit recently...) if this will even begin to work...
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a62710631/vw-scout-pickup-and-suv-reveal/

Keep driving those Jeeps!!!

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Also additional item on this on Scout... "VW Coming Scout Pickup and SUV will Be Hardworking Beasts. Scout needs to avoid Rivian-like pricing (un-profitable for 15 years!) if this will even begin to work...
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a62710631/vw-scout-pickup-and-suv-reveal/

Keep driving those Jeeps!!!

It would be impossible to launch a new car brand/make and show profit per unit immediately.

You have to pay for the factory, the land it's on, all the people you hired.

Those Capex costs get amortized across production, which is why clickbait headlines say nonsense like "Rivian loses 30k on every truck it sells"

You don't stay in business losing money.

But you do have to pay back the start up costs.

 

[Janster]

BMW......
Why People Think Stellantis, BMW, And Renault Might Merge Into One Giant Automaker - The Autopian

 

[ourjeeps]

It would be impossible to launch a new car brand/make and show profit per unit immediately.

You have to pay for the factory, the land it's on, all the people you hired.

Those Capex costs get amortized across production, which is why clickbait headlines say nonsense like "Rivian loses 30k on every truck it sells"

You don't stay in business losing money.

But you do have to pay back the start up costs.

Yes. Selecting the right pricing strategy is key to boosting profitability and market share.

So no one is confused about my post, I did not/would not, quote the "Rivian loses 30k on every truck it sells" --- that's headline click bait as you say.

However at some point, you have to cover capital expenditure costs, along with all others. Also relying on govt subsidies can be an uncertain path.

Yes (some humor) maybe that photo above of the VW Scout SC plant should be colored in green (billions of Capex dollars) like the adjacent vegetation.

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