2008 Chrysler Sebring Touring on 2040-cars

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FCA-Renault merger talks: France wants job guarantees and Nissan on board

PARIS — France will seek protection of local jobs and other guarantees in exchange for supporting a merger between carmakers Renault and Fiat Chrysler, its finance minister said on Tuesday, underscoring the challenges facing the plan. Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard arrived in Japan to discuss the proposed tie-up with the French company's existing partner Nissan — another potential obstacle to the $35 billion-plus merger of equals. Renault and Italian-American rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) are in talks to tackle the costs of far-reaching technological and regulatory changes by creating the world's third-biggest automaker. Nissan found out about Renault's merger talks with Fiat Chrysler only days before they became public, four sources told Reuters, stoking fears at the Japanese carmaker that a deal could further weaken its position in a 20-year alliance with Renault. A deal between Renault and FCA would create a player ranked behind only Japan's Toyota and Germany's Volkswagen and target 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion) a year in savings. Some analysts, however, say the companies face a challenge to win over powerful stakeholders ranging from the French and Italian governments to trade unions and Nissan. Patrick Pelata, a former Renault chief operating officer, also criticized the deal plan for undervaluing Renault and threatening to overstretch its engineering resources. By valuing Renault at its market price, the all-share offer attributes a negative 6 billion euro value to Renault operations after deduction of its 43.4% stake in Nissan and 3.1% Daimler holding, Pelata told BFM radio. "That's hardly reasonable," he said. "And I think that shareholders, including the French state, are bound to take issue with this sooner or later." Pelata added: "FCA has big problem because they haven't invested for the future — they have no electric vehicle platform and they've done nothing in autonomous cars." French finance minister Bruno Le Maire told RTL radio on Tuesday that the plan was a good opportunity for both Renault and the European car industry, which has been struggling for years with overcapacity and subdued demand. France sets conditions Le Maire also said the French government would seek four guarantees in exchange for backing a deal that would reduce its 15% stake in Renault to 7.5% of the combined entity. "The first: industrial jobs and industrial sites.

Chrysler gets presidential in ads for 200 and 300

Many people are already tired of the candidates in the 2016 presidential race, but Chrysler's new spokesmen are two former Commanders-in-Chief that just about everyone can support – Martin Sheen and Bill Pullman. Sheen had Aaron Sorkin's writing to guarantee he always knew the right thing to say as President Josiah Bartlet on The West Wing, and Pullman fought an alien invasion from a fighter jet as president in Independence Day. Now, these former on-screen presidents help Chrysler sell the 300 and 200 in two new ads. American-est (above) lets Sheen go wild spouting meaningless patriotic aphorisms while slipping in references to the cars' features. Swerve (below) gets a little more directly political by joking about pandering to "nuts" on the fringe during the primary, but the actors still slide in a mention of the vehicles' safety tech. These spots might help Chrysler move a few more units of the 200 before the company impeaches the sedan from the lineup, and the automaker also promises more commercials with Sheen and Pullman in the coming months. We hope Pullman jokes about his fight against aliens in one of the future commercials. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. CHRYSLER PUTS ELECTION YEAR TWIST ON ITS NEW "PRESIDENTIAL" MARKETING CAMPAIGN FEATURING MARTIN SHEEN AND BILL PULLMAN Martin Sheen and Bill Pullman reprise presidential roles in series of television spots "Premium to the People" marketing campaign debuts just in time for President's Day Additional television spots in campaign series with Martin Sheen and Bill Pullman will be introduced in coming months Campaign's first two spots, "American-est" and "Swerve" feature both the Chrysler 200 and Chrysler 300 360-degree campaign to feature television, print, online, social and digital extensions February 15, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The Chrysler brand is launching a new campaign, "Premium to the People," featuring actors Martin Sheen and Bill Pullman. The campaign will launch with two commercials – "American-est" and "Swerve" – both featuring the Chrysler 200 and Chrysler 300. A :60-second "American-est" will launch across online, in addition to the :30-second "Swerve" across both television and online, today, February 15 (President's Day). Additional television spots will roll out in the coming weeks and months. A :30-second version of "American-est" debuted across television on Sunday, February 14.

Dodge to resurrect Scat Pack?

Before social media ever existed, if automotive enthusiasts wanted to be noticed or recognize other fans, they joined a car club. For Dodge muscle car lovers from 1968 through 1971, that group was known as the Scat Pack. Just like the Charger, Challenger and Dart nameplates, it looks like the Scat Pack could be getting a resurrection by Chrysler.
Automotive News is reporting that Chrysler recently renewed its trademark on the Scat Pack name, and while this is in no way a guarantee that the name will return, AN talked to Tim Kuniskis, Dodge President and CEO, who stoked the fire a little more. In the article, Kuniskis said that the name is "a very important part of our history" and added that "we like the whole idea of having a Scat Pack of cars." Scat Pack models were identified by their bumblebee stripes and helmet-wearing bumblebee logo, and the idea of a modern Scat Pack doesn't seem all that outlandish in light of recent vehicles like the Charger SRT Super Bee and the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Concept.
What do you think, is this a cool idea, or is it just an unwelcome bit of nostalgia? Have you say in Comments.