This comes as a surprise to absolutely no one in the automotive industry. Chrysler's Envi electric vehicle program, a hastily rolled out alternative energy dog-and-pony show, was a farce from the beginning and nobody, expect maybe the federal government, was buying it.
Chrysler went from having no electric vehicle program to being on the verge of building hundreds of thousands of them in the course of a year. It trotted out prototypes for journalists to drive and told anyone who would listen that the vehicles were just around the corner.
Now the Envi program that was supposed to fast track all these vehicles to market has been completely dismantled by Fiat. The company's CEO Sergio Marchionne thinks it's going to be awhile before electric cars reach critical mass, so he's going to concentrate on improving the mileage of Chrysler's current fleet for now. Good move Sergio.
Reuters: Chrysler dismantles electric car plans under Fiat
billt9 says:
06:19 AM, 11/ 9/09
Excellent idea by Fiat. As electric/hybrids would constitute maybe 1-5% of sales, while the rest of Chrysler's lineup has industry leading worst fuel economy.
inlinesix says:
09:12 AM, 11/ 9/09
Gotta agree with IL and billt9
estreka says:
10:08 AM, 11/ 9/09
"dog-and-pony show"
Precisely the problem. I think most organizations in the US are so focused on appearances that nothing of consequence is accomplished. We're living in a 21st century Guilded Age.
greenpony says:
10:55 AM, 11/ 9/09
estreka, sounds exactly like how politicians think. All talk, no substance.
kingkhalas says:
08:55 AM, 11/10/09
typical
benson2175 says:
09:37 AM, 11/10/09
It seems to me that all Chrysler does is announce new product plans without actually making any new products.