This past Wednesday (December 18, 2019), Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group (Peugeot) announced they had agreed to binding merger terms that will create a $50 billion company and one of the largest automakers by sales. If approved by regulatory bodies, trade unions and politicians, the merger will bring the Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Maserati, Peugeot, Opel, Vauxhall and DS brands under one yet-to-be-named corporate umbrella. So what does that have to do with this recent shot of our ’15 RAM 2500, ’17 Chev SS and ’18 Buick Regal TourX?
Should the merger be consummated, it means all three vehicle brands can be (somewhat circuitously) connected:
The Chevrolet SS Sport Sedan was sold as a captive import in the USA from 2014–2017, and is a lightly rebadged Holden Commodore (VF) SS-V Redline (a GM brand, at least for now). It was also sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8.
The Buick Regal TourX was sold as a captive import in the USA from 2018–2020, and is a lightly rebadged Opel Insignia Country Tourer. It was also sold in Australia as the Holden Commodore (VB) Tourer and in the UK as the Vauxhall Insignia (B) Sports Tourer. Shortly after we purchased ours, GM announced the sale of Opel to PSA Group, and earlier this month, GM announced both the Buick Regal and Holden Commodore families have been discontinued altogether, making for an abbreviated 2020 model year.
The RAM 2500 is of course a Fiat Chrysler product, which connects the final dot if the merger happens. Given the current popularity of pickups, I think I’m pretty safe in betting against a hat trick of orphaned vehicles.
Since this is only an Outtake, I’ll leave the deeper industry analysis to one of our other authors, but will at least echo their observations that the global auto market is going through a period of major upheaval. When it comes time for us to go through another replacement cycle in 5-10 years, I suspect our choices (other than the truck) will look very different.
I’d probably want at least one car that was more economical on fuel, but that is a really nice fleet.
That’s a lot of grey Ed, I’m hoping that the VW will not be grey as well.
This morning I was commenting on the hordes of white, grey and black cars heading for the University. My daughter commented that we were also driving a silver van… 😉
The VWs will be Pearl White and Gulf Blue when complete – “whew!”
All three ended up grey because that was the only color available that checked all our other boxes. All were bought at substantial discounts, which was color-limiting as well.
I have the opposite problem. Two boring cars in bright colors. Waddya gonna do?
Also looks like a heck of a nice property, Ed. You are doing things right. My only consolation after seeing that picture is that I’m reading it from a ski lift.
My driveway has the same issue it contains a 03 Citroen C5 diesel and a 59 Hillman Minx both Citroen and Hillman Rootes.ChryslerUK were vacuumed up by Peugeot now PSA group Citroen as a brand survived and is still on sale today Hillman went the way of the Dodo as will some of the recently aquired badges/brands, the Local GM badge has already announced the demise of its car rebadge vehicles Commodore and Astra and will rely on rebadging various CUV & SUVs to keep the brand on life support, what PSA does with that car/platform for European brands Opel and Vauxhall is yet to be seen the smaller Corsa is already out based on a Peugeot but what they do with the FCA range is still anyones guess.
Anyone want to wage a guess on what the merged FCA/PSA will be called? I’m guessing neither “Fiat” nor “Chrysler” will be in the name, and likely not Peugeot or Citroen either.
How about the “Fiat-Chrysler Automotive Group”.
That kind of name works for that German company that makes Porsches and VW(s).
Unlikely, because (a) the PSA guys may not like a merger being perceived as being swallowed up by another company, and (b) since FCA was formed, both Fiat and Chrysler sales and number of models have dwindled (Chrysler is down to just the Pacifica and 300 now). Even before the merger talk, wags were saying Fiat Chrysler would be more appropriately named Jeep Ram
Not Jeep its kind of a dirty word in some markets
French Italian American Transportation.
Great looking fleet, Ed.
My favorite is of course the Holden SS, but I like the others.
The Chevrolet SS was one of those cars you didn’t just buy by mistake. Most people who drive them know what they are. Thus, here in the ‘States, you see quite a few people do the Holden badge swap, far more than for the Pontiac G8 or GTO.
I got my SS as a company car. Not a mistake, but our fleet manager claims he got a great buy on some leftover ’14s well into 2015. I was just told I was getting some kind of Chevy. Didn’t know what model until I had to turn in the old Caravan to pick it up. Nice surprise!
Don’t forget Alfa Romeo! Mind you, it sometimes feels as if Fiat did, for about 20 years.
Technically, Lancia is still around too.
That’s a great driveway lineup. One that could easily be my own driveway.
Love the SS. What wheels are you running on it? Any more pics/closeups of them?
Thanks. Those are my winter wheels with Michelin X-ices mounted. They’re the same 18” steel wheel used on the Caprice PPV (also a captive import Holden product). I added trim rings from a recent Camaro to dress them up a bit. “Detective Stembridge, at your service!”
I must wonder what will be the new color trend in a few years. Grey has been the “in-thing” for quite some time now, and I’m starting to see a lot more beige and silver tones coming back.
Bring back turquoise!
I remain unconvinced that the merger will go through. There are too many parties involved that have a say in matters who might not see the outcome as positive.
Peugeot is easily the oldest name there, founded in 1810 with the trademark lion since 1858. If they aren’t in the company name, I guess it will something generic and initial based.
Given the group’s reach though, Imperial would be quite neat…
I’m having a difficult time imaging us Americans warming up to the Peugeot name and we certainly won’t like pronouncing it.
PUH-jo isn’t in our lexicon, we’ll be hearing a lot of PEW-jut
The Holden SS, when you squint a little, looks like it is wearing poverty caps and whitewalls. Which would be a great look on a car like that.
Yeah, it is terrible when practical considerations result in a driveway that has no color – like mine populated by gray and white.
Just want to say your cover shot is beautiful.
New name: Peufijee-Dorramas-Opevauds Corporation; or PDO for short.