Official: Chrysler axed in Australia

Five months after we broke the news that the end was nigh, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has officially axed the Chrysler brand in Australia.

Citing the “global push towards electrification and focus on SUVs”, FCA Australia, which is a subsidiary of Stellantis, has closed the book on a 57-year dynasty Down Under.

It now joins fellow group brand Dodge on the sidelines in Australia.

The writing had been on the wall as sales waned and the brand’s portfolio was gradually trimmed down to only the Chrysler 300 sedan.

As speculation of the brand’s demise mounted overseas with the formation of Stellantis, a new showroom design for Australian dealers was produced earlier this year with the Chrysler logo conspicuously absent.

FCA Australia didn’t comment at the time on the brand’s future, and subsequently said it had secured a small batch of less than 100 cars. But it was clearly the last gasp.

carsales understands there’s only about 30 examples of the Chrysler 300 left available for purchase in showrooms.

The move will see the V8-powered Chrysler 300 SRT step down from active service in the NSW Police Force, where it has performed pursuit car duties since the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon were discontinued.

Aussie muscle car fans will also rue the demise of the last affordable rear-wheel drive V8 sedan, which leaves the Ford Mustang as the only sub-$80,000 RWD V8 passenger car on the new vehicle market.

For the record, the 300 SRT Core is priced at $72,450 plus on-road costs, with the SRT at $78,250 plus ORCs.

Chrysler also offers the 300 with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 under the bonnet (from $60,550), and previously sold a turbo-diesel version, however the majority of buyers have opted for the 6.4-litre HEMI which in its final form produces 350kW/637Nm.

For existing Chrysler 300 owners, FCA Australia has confirmed Jeep dealerships will continue to offer scheduled servicing and will also supply OEM parts.

FCA Australia managing director Kevin Flynn said: “Chrysler has held a special place in the heart of many Australians and we are proud of its history here.”

However, he said bigger things were afoot as the industry continues to evolve, especially in relation to electrification.

“We are very excited about this new era of mobility,” he said.

“Stellantis is dedicated to becoming the market leader in low-emission vehicles and committed to developing the most capable and sustainable high-performing and four-wheel drive vehicles in the world.

“We have a hugely positive year ahead of us, focusing on electrification and moving into a very premium offering with our all-new, two- and three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee as well as the PHEV Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.

“These models represent real advancements in terms of technology, luxury, efficiency and capability,” he said.

Chrysler was once ranked number three in sales in Australia behind Holden and Ford, when it was a manufacturer producing cars such as the Valiant and its coupe spin-off, the Charger, from a factory in South Australia.

It opened the Tonsley Park assembly plant in 1964 and its best sales year was 1969 when 66,948 Chrysler-badged cars were sold in Australia.

The brand went into hiatus locally in 1980 when Mitsubishi bought out Chrysler Australia and rebranded its vehicles Mitsubishi.

But Chrysler returned to Australia as an importer in the 1990s, first with the Jeep brand and later with cars such as the Chrysler Neon, Grand Voyager, PT Cruiser, Crossfire, Sebring and 300C.