Chrysler has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy!

[NeilBlanchard]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103645492

[KarenRei]

Wow! I so did not see that one coming!

By the way, have I shown you around the cave I've been living in for the past year? :thumbsup:

[speculawyer]

I wonder if the Dodge Circuit will survive? Then again . . . who cares.

[RainCaster]

All Dodge's various electric prototypes were a last-ditch Hail Mary IMO. I have had numerous Mopars in my lifetime- the most "normal" of them had gone through 3 transmissions in 80K miles. For that reason, they have lost me as a customer forever.

[Gena]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103645492

yeah - about a month ago when the govt was saying that they "had" to complete that deal with fiat or file BK, i knew it was a done deal... the was NO WAY! fiat was NOT going to complete it before that and with only 30 days? seemed like a slim-to-none chance...

bummer.

i just think of the lee iacocca days... how great it would be to have that resurrection today... (well, with NEW and better technology)

[speculawyer]

Maybe Chrysler-Fiat can start building some of these . . . If they can secure a good cheap source of batteries in the $350/Kwh range (or lower), they should be able to build an economical city car. It would certainly be a way to build a car like the Th!nk City really quickly. (And it would be much lighter than the Th!nk City . . . the weight is a problem with the Th!nk City car, IMHO.)


http://www.autoevolution.com/images/news/fiat-500-ev-adapt-the-37000-euro-baby-5916_1.jpg

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/fiat-500-ev-adapt-the-37000-euro-electric-baby-5916.html

The Swedish version is built with labor that is too expensive and batteries that are too expensive.

[Ardie3301]

FIAT? Building an Electric car? And this isn't an Onion article?
No *wonder* there are people who look at electric cars with incredulity.

Chrysler (Or "New Chrysler," depending on their name post-bankruptcy) would have better luck electric-izing something inexpensive but trendy, like the PT Cruiser, or something that would give New Chrysler more of a competitive edge, like maybe an electric minivan.

-- Ardie

[speculawyer]

FIAT? Building an Electric car? And this isn't an Onion article?
No *wonder* there are people who look at electric cars with incredulity.

Well, it isn't Fiat building an electric car . . . it is some Swedish group converting a Fiat glider (acar w/o engine, fuel system, exhuast, etc.).

Chrysler (Or "New Chrysler," depending on their name post-bankruptcy) would have better luck electric-izing something inexpensive but trendy, like the PT Cruiser, or something that would give New Chrysler more of a competitive edge, like maybe an electric minivan.

Like this?
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/04/USPS1.jpg
http://jalopnik.com/5223097/chrysler-electric-postal-van-concept-the-pony+up-express

[KarenRei]

Any EV with a big fat grille on the front makes me laugh. :)