Live in Interesting times: Hyundai/ Kia want FCA

Makes more sense than Fiat. I'm not sure what it would mean for the brands other than Ram and Jeep, though. I guess Chrysler still sells a boatload of minivans.

FCA does not make a true minivan anymore. They canceled those models. The new version is more like a station wagon than a true minivan.

IdaD wrote:
Makes more sense than Fiat. I'm not sure what it would mean for the brands other than Ram and Jeep, though. I guess Chrysler still sells a boatload of minivans.

Purty nice station wagon too!

Campfire Time wrote:
Hyundai is a huge company with their hand in many industries. The automotive part of Hyundai said years ago their goal is to become the worlds largest auto manufacture. So it doesn't surprise me at all that they have some interest in FCA. They made Kia into a company whose cars people actually want to buy. In fact they are making some pretty nice cars now. They can probably do the same for FCA.

In 06, Kia hired Peter Schreyer away from Audi. He became chief designer and in 2012 became one of the three company presidents.

Buddy bought a Hyundai Santa Fe, new. He dumped it within 5 years, after the extended warranty expired. Steering problems, transaxle problems, main seal problems, etc...all expensive if no warranty.

But then FCA isn't much better. A family member bought a new Jeep Patriot in 2014. Suspension, leaks, transmission overheating...he couldn't trust it and traded it in on a non FCA in 2017.

Both my family member and friend went Japanese for replacement vehicles after their experience.

Based on their experience I wouldn't buy FCA or Hyundai. I would give GM, Ford, Honda or Nissan a look with the next new vehicle though. But who knows how any new vehicle will pan out. At this point, we buy new, get factory extended warranty, trade in when warranty is just about up...no matter the make. Vehicle repairs are so expensive nowadays.

mich800 wrote:

rr2254545 wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
We discussed FCA last weekend at my BIL's home. He's a high ranking engineer at Ford and pretty much knows what is transpiring in the automotive world...

He told me that FCA is basically not profitable as a car company considering the whole picture. Only the 'Jeep' and the RAM truck divisions make money. The rest are bombs, including the Fiat and the other 'car' lines and Sergio wants to sell it off before he retires.

With the current climate (the NK ongoing scenario) and the Chinese involvement, or should I say non-involvement) the climate here is no divesture to the Chinese. On the other hand, Hyundai (SK) is a good fit.

Will be interesting, especially for the North American operations which are UAW.

This is called insider trading

That is nowhere near insider trading(information).

No, not really. It's inter industry scuttlebutt.

Most everyone know what everyone else is doing or plans to so. I knew about the euro-diesel Ranger a year ago.

My BIL is head engineer on the new 7 and 10 speed automatic's that Fords are putting in the trucks and I also know a 10 speed (beefed up box) is headed for the F250-350-450 and 550 trucks too.

If I hold Ford, GM or FCA stock it isn't my choice, it's my financial people's choice. They handle the financial end of my retirement.

All automakers have issues, part of the product. When you have a complex machine and that machine gets more complex every year, issues arise and no builder is exempt.

I'd say overall, the automakers do a heck of a lot better job than RV manufacturers do.

One thing to keep in mind is, just because they 'want' to buy Chrysler / FCA son't mean the SEC will approve it. Good example is the Cabelas / Bass Pro buyout. The SEC still hasn't approved that.

mowingman wrote:
FCA does not make a true minivan anymore. They canceled those models. The new version is more like a station wagon than a true minivan.

IdaD wrote:
Makes more sense than Fiat. I'm not sure what it would mean for the brands other than Ram and Jeep, though. I guess Chrysler still sells a boatload of minivans.

I guess I don't follow. The new models of Chrysler/Dodge minivans look no less minivan-ish than a Odyssey or Sienna. I'd personally buy an Odyssey if I were in that market but FCA still sells a lot more minivans than anybody else. Actually so far in 2017 they've sold more than everybody else combined.

SidecarFlip wrote:
One thing to keep in mind is, just because they 'want' to buy Chrysler / FCA son't mean the SEC will approve it. Good example is the Cabelas / Bass Pro buyout. The SEC still hasn't approved that.

According to Wikipedia, FCA is an Italian controlled company incorporated in the Netherlands with its headquarters in London. I wonder how much influence the SEC would have.