Currently reading: Chrysler to exit UK in 2017

Struggling US brand will stop selling cars in the UK from 2017 due to poor sales and an unappealing product range with high CO2 emissions

Chrysler will stop selling cars in the UK in 2017.

Speaking to Autocar, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' deputy UK managing director Karl Howkins revealed that dealers were informed of the decision yesterday and the company would now be focusing on other brands in its range, including a revitalised Jeep.

The decision had been taken, according to Howkins, because the Chrysler product portfolio no longer appealed to UK car buyers and the CO2 emissions of the products that were offered were too high.

"The Jeep Renegade is more important to focus on as the volume is much higher," he said. "Plus there are more new Alfa and Fiat products coming that we need to focus on."

Chrysler has had a troubled few years in the UK, and sales have been dwindling, dropping below 2000 units last year. Back in 2012, sales stood at almost 3500 units. 

Chrysler has traditionally been packaged alongside Jeep in UK dealerships, but some of its recent product offerings have been badge-engineered models sourced from Lancia, including the Ypsilon city car and Delta hatchback.

These models never resonated with UK buyers, and the Delta was withdrawn from sale in the UK last January, as revealed at the time by Autocar. At that time, however, Chrysler said it would continue its presence in the UK, but that decision has now been reversed. 

It has had more limited success in the past with models such as the 300C saloon and Grand Voyager seven-seat MPV, but these models' fall in popularity has coincided with the a market shift away from large saloons and MPVs and towards towards SUVs.

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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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UK Car Discount 19 March 2015

Mixed Bag

Bit of a mixed bag really - Maybe they should have streamlined the product range for the UK market.
centenary 17 March 2015

Plain ugly cars that were

Plain ugly cars that were uneconomical to run. Dont let the door bang you on the arse on the way out.
jonboy4969 17 March 2015

Fatboyfat above quite clearly

Fatboyfat above quite clearly has not seen the Jeep sales in the UK, last year they achieved record numbers and so far this year they are up on last year, with the Renegade and other new/refreshed models due, sales can and will only go one way, and thats up.

before you comment you should at least know what sales numbers are for a brand is thats you only argument.

fatboyfat 17 March 2015

really!

jonboy4969 wrote:

Fatboyfat above quite clearly has not seen the Jeep sales in the UK, last year they achieved record numbers and so far this year they are up on last year, with the Renegade and other new/refreshed models due, sales can and will only go one way, and thats up.

before you comment you should at least know what sales numbers are for a brand is thats you only argument.

I am one of those that made that figure! I bought a new Grand Cherokee and it was my third Jeep. As you know so much about numbers whats the comparison between say 2005 and 2014? Jeep were in decline for so many years previous to the new models a plain YoY does not work.

I have experienced Jeeps customer service (if you can call it that) first hand and along with many others we have come away unimpressed!

289 17 March 2015

@ jonboy4969

FYI Jeep sales 2,306 - 2012. 2,209 - 2013. 3,909 - 2014.
Record year but still tiny numbers.
Just to put these numbers in perspective Land Rover sold 48,626 - 2012. 54,699 - 2013. 56,200 - 2014.
When you are that hopeless you are quite right, the only way is up...unless you go into receivership that is!