克萊斯勒的煩惱
????自克萊斯勒(Chrysler)2009年破產(chǎn)以來,在塞吉歐?馬奇歐尼的妙手治理之下,菲亞特(Fiat)和克萊斯勒聯(lián)盟在穩(wěn)定的同時也擁有了償付能力。然而,菲亞特在歐 洲的銷量連續(xù)6年下跌,由此帶來的負面效應(yīng)如今也影響到了克萊斯勒,迫使它收緊了資金預(yù)算。 ????未來產(chǎn)品計劃一直是汽車制造商最為精確的晴雨表。本月初,馬奇歐尼取消了原本定于今年發(fā)布的四款基于菲亞特的新車型,分別是兩款克萊斯勒車型和兩款道奇 (Dodge)車型。此舉顯示,他對前景并不樂觀。 ????這一由2009年策略升級而來的產(chǎn)品計劃也預(yù)示著美國菲亞特家族將迎來新的成員——但是要等到2015年。據(jù)推測,馬奇歐尼認為屆時歐洲和菲亞特的狀況會有所改善。 密歇根州特洛伊咨詢公司HIS首席分析師特雷西?瀚德勒稱:“我估計,推遲是為了留住現(xiàn)金。那些本來屬于克萊斯勒、道奇和吉普(Jeep)的車型都會流向菲亞特。” ????另一款推遲發(fā)布的車型將是吉普大型7座SUV,該車將再次啟用Jeep Wagoneer這個名字。目前,該車的上市時間預(yù)計為2015年。 ????去年,克萊斯勒是底特律三大汽車制造商中唯一的一家在美國斬獲了更多市場份額的公司。這在很大程度上歸功于Ram 皮卡、道奇Caravan以及克萊斯勒200和克萊斯勒 300轎車等車型的良好業(yè)績。但是,基于菲亞特Alfa Romeo平臺的緊湊車型道奇Dart 的銷量卻不盡人意。 ????Dart有著不錯的評價。買家對這款車型反應(yīng)平平的原因有很多,包括來自于諸如福特(Ford)福克斯和本田(Honda)思域的激烈競爭,引擎和變速器的錯誤搭配以及 消費者對道奇做小型車這一舉動并不買賬。汽車市場研究和產(chǎn)品分析公司AutoPacific分析師大衛(wèi)?蘇立文稱:“克萊斯勒在吸引Dart新買主方面存在問題。”然而他對克萊斯勒給 予了高度評價,因為公司寧愿多花時間打造“完美”車型,而不是倉促上馬。 ????克萊斯勒正在開發(fā)9速自動變速箱,以提振Dart車型的人氣和銷售業(yè)績。未來幾年之內(nèi)的另一個重大計劃就是推出Alfa Romeo,其首發(fā)將是將于今年面世的4C轎跑。隨 后,其他5款新Alfa車型將在2016年面世。 ????這家美國汽車制造商第四季度的利潤為3.78億美元,較一年前上升了68%。但是,這個季度還是沒能給克萊斯勒帶來輝煌的一年,因為克萊斯勒所面臨的困境是:過小 的規(guī)模——盡管身后有菲亞特這顆大樹——難以為公司帶來足夠的利潤,因而也難以在全球范圍內(nèi)與大眾和豐田(Toyota)這樣的對手競爭。 ????2月3日,馬奇歐尼在都靈的講話中提到,他打算在2014年將菲亞特和克萊斯勒合并成一家汽車公司。一家新的以美國為總部的汽車公司可能會因此而誕生。與此同時, 他發(fā)誓將在意大利生產(chǎn)奢華車型Alfas和瑪莎拉蒂,而且可能創(chuàng)建一個面向發(fā)展中國家的低成本汽車新品牌。 ????如果他能實現(xiàn)這些計劃,馬奇歐尼無疑將再創(chuàng)奇跡,而這將成為世界汽車制造界最為偉大的創(chuàng)舉之一。如果歐洲不景氣的市場能夠有所回升(而且快速回升),那么他 獲得成功的可能性將得到極大的提升。(財富中文網(wǎng)) ????譯者:翔 |
????Sergio Marchionne has worked wonders keeping the alliance between Fiat and Chrysler steady and solvent since the latter's 2009 bankruptcy. But the repercussions of the sixth straight year of falling European sales on Fiat are now hitting Chrysler, forcing a tightening of capital budgets. ????With future product plans an automaker's most accurate barometer, Marchionne last week signaled heavy weather ahead by canceling four new Fiat- based models, two for Chrysler and two for Dodge, that were to have been announced this year. ????The product plan, an updated version of a 2009 strategy, also shows new models being added for the Fiat franchise in the U.S. – but not until 2015. Presumably Marchionne is banking on an improvement in Europe and Fiat by then. "My supposition is that the delays are about conserving cash," said Tracy Handler, principal analyst for IHS in Troy, Michigan. "The cars that were going to go to Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep are going to go to Fiat instead." ????Another vehicle delayed will be a large seven-passenger Jeep sport utility under the revived Jeep Wagoneer name. The debut is now scheduled for 2015. ????Chrysler was the only one of three Detroit-based automakers to gain U.S. market share last year, largely on the strength of vehicles like the Ram pickup, Dodge Caravan and Chrysler 200 and Chrysler 300 sedans. But the Dodge Dart, a new compact car based on a Fiat platform used by Alfa Romeo has lagged behind. ????The Dart garnered strong reviews. The reasons why car buyers haven't responded enthusiastically range from fierce competition against the likes of Ford (F) Focus and Honda (HMC) Civic to the wrong mix of engines and transmissions to poor consumer regard for Dodge as a maker of small cars. "Chrysler has issues getting new buyers in the door in Dart's segment," said Dave Sullivan, an analyst for AutoPacific. He gave Chrysler high marks for spending extra time to make new models "perfect," rather than rush them into production. ????Chrysler is developing a nine-speed automatic transmission that could lead to an improvement in the Dart's popularity and sales. Another critical initiative over the next few years will be the introduction of Alfa Romeo, starting with its 4C sports couple that will be shown this year and then five new Alfa models through 2016. ????The U.S automaker's fourth-quarter profit was $378 million, up 68% from a year earlier. The quarter capped an impressive year in light of Chrysler's main impediment: that it's too small—even with the benefits of the Fiat affiliation—to generate sufficient profit to compete on a global scale against the likes of Volkswagen and Toyota (TM). ????Marchionne, speaking in Turin on Feb. 3, said he intended to merge Fiat and Chrysler into a single car company in 2014. The result likely will be a new U.S.-based automaker. Meantime, he is vowing to build luxury Alfas and Maseratis in Italy and may initiate a new low-cost car brand for developing nations. ????If he can achieve his initiatives Marchionne will have pulled another rabbit out of his hat, a feat that will be considered among the greatest in global automaking. His chances can improve considerably with a pickup—and very soon—of the convulsive European car market. |