Chrysler committed to Australia until 2018

The Chrysler brand’s future in Australia is only guaranteed out to the end of 2017 but could be secured longer-term by new interest from local police forces for its 300 large car.

Chrysler currently only offers V6 and V8 versions of the large rear-wheel drive sedan in Australia — a far cry from a few years ago when the Crossfire coupe, PT Cruiser hatch, Sebring sedan and cabrio and Voyager people-mover also sat in showrooms.

New Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia chief Steve Zanlunghi put the 2017 timing on Chrysler this week, but said police demand was an unexpected new opportunity for the brand, which built cars here in the 1950s through to the early 1980s.

The 300 and 300C are of interest to Australian police because of the end of local manufacture of the large RWD Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, which have been long-term staples of local forces.

“With the Chrysler brand, with the going away of local Australian manufacturing, from our potential fleet customers we have had a lot of enquiries on the 300 and 300C,” Zanlunghi explained.

“Specifically, we have had the police come to us asking for a bid and if it would make sense.

“The way I see it there are still good, profitable opportunities for the Chrysler brand – 300 and 300C -- and we have had some opportunities pop up that the organisation hasn’t even been thinking about.”

But when pressed Zanlunghi admitted his belief in the brand only went so far in terms of time, describing himself as committed to the brand at the “current time, yes”.

And next year? “We will see what 2017 brings”.

Zanlunghi demurred when it was pointed that hardly made him sound committed.

“I wouldn’t say I am not committed. We are committed. I am committed at least through 2017. Let’s see what happens, let’s see if there are any other products we might be able to add.

“Let’s see if we are profitable. Right now the Chrysler brand is pretty profitable for us.”

According to the motoring.com.au New Car Calendar there are no new model Chryslers headed our way to expand the local range.

In the USA, Chrysler offers only the 300, the soon-to-be-discontinued 200 medium sedan and the just-launched Pacifica people-mover, which FCAA has not indicated any plans for in Australia.

Further out there is a mid-size crossover scheduled for 2019 and a 300 overhaul for 2020.

An intriguing possibility could be the import of the US Dodge Challenger coupe as a reborn Chrysler Charger, but that depends on a business case being developed and approved.

Dodge is on hold in Australia at the moment as FCAA recently ran out the last examples of the Journey crossover.

Zanlunghi said that action reflected a review of the entire FCAA business that also includes Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Commercial, Jeep, Abarth and Mopar.

“We are looking at everything under a magnifying glass, everything that makes sense to us moving forward.

“If it’s not profitable for us then we are moving that stuff out. Where we have the opportunities we are going to move our resources towards it.”