Stellantis chopping block: Is a next Chrysler 300 DOA?

Stellantis is a huge group composed of no less than 14 brands. That is an insane amount of brands for one company to run. Chrysler has been in trouble before, many times. But recent news from Stellantis might be the worst news yet for the good old American brand.

A few years ago, the previous CEO, Carlos Taveres, claimed that every brand would be given 10 years to prove itself. As we know, Mr.Taveres left the company long before these 10 years were over.

Now, current boss Antonio Filosa is said to be in the process of considering the viability of all these brands. Something that doesn’t look good for Chrysler and others. Like Lancia. The Italian upscale brand has had only one model since it’s been part of Stellantis. Things might be tough for DS as well. A “fake” brand created in 2009 using the name of the most famous Citroen Model. A brand that never really established itself in the luxury car market, with mostly weird and unsettling designs. It’s also hard to create a truly special, luxury feel when all the car components are also shared with many, many other cheaper brands.

The good part of the report is that it seems the axe might mostly fall on European brands. Which would save Chrysler once more. It also makes sense since Chrysler is getting ready to unveil a heavily revised version of its Pacifica Minivan, with a new front-end design inspired by the Hacyion concept. (a hard thing to imagine…)

Until a few months ago, Chrysler’s CEO was still mentioning a new SUV and possibly a new sedan later. That sedan rumor could be a revival of the Chrysler 300. A new, more upscale sedan based on the new Dodge Charger. (The illustration above shows what a new STLA 300 could look like).

Let’s hope that Chrysler finds a way to make it through troubled times one more time…

It is unclear if Stellantis would keep the names of all of these brands. One can imagine DS or Lancia being sold. Which would almost 100% mean new Chinese owners.

It’ also interesting to think what would happen if Chrysler were bought by a Chinese company. So far, it has been bad with Volvo. However, MG is not really MG anymore. I wonder if Chrysler’s next chapter will be written in China. Something that would be quite an intricate political puzzle. Since it would give a Chinese owner instant access to the US market and factories.