You're Going to Wind Up Paying For It......

 I know many of you know this, but good grief, have you seen truck prices? 

And the worse of all right now is Stellantis, or as we know it here in America, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram Jeep. (CDRJ)

CDRJ has had troubles, well, since the 1970s when I was a kid in high school. Heck, I remember when the US Government had to step in and bail (CDRJ) out when Lee Iaccoca was the president of CDRJ. Heck, just Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth back then. 

And the good Lord knows how many times CDRJ has been sold.....Finally, a European car maker 'merged'  the company with about 10 different European brands....

And the 'geniuses' at Stellantis decided that it was time to make CDRJ a 'luxury' brand, that the American consumer would be able to pay higher prices for their products. 

Since the pandemic, the prices of CDRJ has gone up the following.

Rams-50%

Dodge-50%

Jeep- 61%

And, do they even make a Chrysler anymore?  I know a member of the Chrysler family was trying to buy the name back. 

So, what has happened is the average American being able to buy a Dodge truck for work? 

It seems to be gone. They're talking about notes for the average truck now nearly $1000....and a Jeep, which I remember in high school, college kids being able to afford one, heck, I almost bought one when I graduated from Lamar.  

And CDRJ is in trouble, no one is buying their products. Dealerships all over America are lashing out at European leadership, and they're getting no help. 

Already European leadership at CDRJ has shut down production at plants and new plants promised in the new contract with the automaker union, well, they've been put on hold. 

The union and Stellantis are already suing one another over the shutdowns. 

They are saying they must sell 200,000 vehicles before the plants re-open.....Good luck there. 

Meanwhile, the vehicles sit on lots at CDRJ dealers. Many CDRJ dealships are on the verge of going out of business. Heck, there are still 2023 vehicles still on lots, some there over 500 days....

Maybe someone with money will buy CDRJ? Or just Dodge, or Ram, or heck, Jeep. Trouble is, if they come up with more affordable products, it will take 2-3 years to reach market. 

So, I am wondering how close we are to 'bailing out' Dodge, Jeep, Ram? The US Government has done it before. And give them credit, they paid it back.....But will they, or can they this time? 

Maybe it's time for CDRJ to shutdown? The problem is, in economics, one less competitor, the other makers sure enough can raise prices...

( And someone ask about our price of the new Subie.....Very similar to what we gave in 2017.....And we were both shocked and pleased. )