THINGS are going from bad to worse for US car giants Chrysler after they confirmed the development of their next car has been paused.
At present, the Stellantis-owned brand – widely considered one of the ‘Big Three’ in the American automotive industry alongside Ford and General Motors – is facing a bleak future after the all-electric crossover they were set to release has been pulled.
Currently, Chrysler’s lineup consists of two minivans—the upscale Pacifica and the reborn Voyager.
The Voyager has a different name but is essentially a bare-bones trim level of the Pacifica.
Previously, the brand sold the best-selling 300 sedan and station wagon – but that was discontinued in 2023.
The company had planned to go all-electric by 2028, with the flagship vehicle of its EV future to be a sleek crossover named the Chrysler Airflow.
The Airflow first appeared as a concept three years ago – showcasing a low-set and sleek design with rounded lines and tall wheel arches.
But Chrysler has been slow to bring it to market and by 2023, reports suggested the design and nameplate had been scrapped.
On Monday, the Chrysler fan site, Mopar Insiders, as reported by KBB, showed an email from Stellantis to Chrysler suppliers stating that the project was “on hold until further notice.”
The email added: “Any spending associated with this program should be suspended immediately.”
Automotive News then confirmed the news, with Chrysler stating: “The program is paused for now as we assess the market and our customers’ needs and wants.”
Fans on social were quick to weigh in on the latest developments.
One wrote: “Chrysler is a dead brand rolling.”
And another commented: “Goodbye Chrysler, you had a good run.”
But Chrysler insists it does have other projects in its pipeline, adding: “The future for Chrysler is bright, with a refreshed Chrysler Pacifica coming in 2026, a new crossover coming soon after, and a third product inspired by the Halcyon concept.”
The Halcyon Concept, which appeared early last year, is likely a long way off from production.
The bizarre vehicle showcased the possibility of wireless charging from electric roads, with a steering wheel and pedals that fold away, allowing the car to drive itself.
There were signs last year that all was not well with the 99-year-old company.
Sun Motors reported that it was forced to sell off its massive test track located in the middle of the desert in a desperate bid to cut costs.
Their Arizona Proving Ground, located around 100 miles south of Las Vegas, was purchased by Chrysler from Ford in 2007 – but now, they’re ready to offload the testing track.
Since its inception, the site has been used for hot weather testing for automobiles.
The facility features around 70 miles of track, which includes a high-speed oval, various shorter handling tracks, and off-road testing grounds.
In a statement, Stellantis said they were “working with the UAW to offer proving ground employees special packages, or they can choose to follow their work in a transfer of operations.”
It goes on to say that the 41 members of staff employed at the facility could be placed on an “indefinite layoff, which would entitle them to pay and benefits for two years.”
In October, Chrysler was also forced to recall some 129,000 of its vehicles due to a dangerous issue that could lead to crashes.
Drivers were asked to book an urgent repair after the brand identified a malfunction with a vital piece of tech.
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