So much for the bailout leading to a compact/alt-energy über alles approach. The newly reconstituted Chrysler has lost its A/B segment (compact, city car) vehicle line chief and will be cutting nearly half of its Global Electric Motors (GEM) dealers. Of course, Chrysler’s A/B segment vehicle lines are empty at the moment, and aren’t likely to be filled with anything beyond cynical Fiat rebadges. Is that why Andreas Schell, who came to Chrysler with the Daimler merger, is leaving? Chrysler spokesfolks tell Automotive News [sub] only that they knew Schell “has left the company but didn’t know where he is heading.” Meanwhile, Chrysler is culling 64 of its 150 GEM dealers because “many of the rejected GEM dealers failed to sell more than a handful of GEM cars [er, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, actually] in the past 12 to 24 months or longer… The debtors have determined that the GEM dealership agreements are neither necessary nor valuable to their estates and should be rejected.” Of course, perhaps the problem isn’t so much the dealers as the vehicles… but good luck getting a judge to rule that way. In any case, the one GEM dealer that the Freep spoke to was glad to see the GEMs go, saying they never sold regularly or particularly profitably.
Why does that GEM electric vehicle have a grill?
I saw one of these on the road – in an area marked 30-35 but people go 40 and up on that section of road. I wanted to call the cops not thinking it was legal to operate one in my area – big line of cars behind it as it scooted along – an accident waiting to happen!
Who needs a “Neighborhood Electric Vehicle” like the one pictured above, if there are cheap, reliable and easy-to-maintain “Neighborhood Non-Electric Vehicles” already available? (c.f. <a href= http://www.piaggioape.co.uk/) already on the market for decades?
Shall we book it under “solutions to problems nobody has”?
Its all about the carbon emmissions man! THE CARBON EMMISSIONS!!!1
In the meantime you can get 60 mpg in a 10 year old car that offers more room, far better driving dynamics, a safety level that makes this ‘thing’ laughable, and a quality of craftsmanship that should see north of 250k.
This Chrysler needs more Insight… and perhaps a Civic lesson on financial responsibility, would finally Pry Us off this zombie company.
It’s true! It’s true!
GEM used to be awesome back when it took the market by storm and beat the pants off the traditional vendors such as Taylor-Dunn. But then it started growing and and growing and gaining features in the chase of the street-compatible transportation chimera. Eventually it just priced itself out.
http://www.piaggioape.co.uk/
Wonder why these little cars were never imported into N America?
They’re like the KEI trucks.
Those beady little headlights and the front grills make it look like an angry spider.
My department has one of these to cart stuff around campus. It’s not fun to drive in the least.