Fiat Chrysler is stopping production of sedans in the United States

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will stop building the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart in the United States. Car manufacturers focus on SUVs and pickups, the largest segment in the country.

SUVs and pickups

This does not mean that FCA will stop offering models other than SUVs and pickups in the US. Some models will be offered in Mexico or Canada, if not. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles wants to create more production space for future crossovers and SUVs, since that is the largest segment in the United States. The Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 will be built for less than a year before the models go off the market.

Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200

The Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 have only been on the market for a short time before going out of production at the end of this year. The Dodge Dart has been in production since May 2012 and the Chrysler 200 was introduced to the public at the Detroit auto show in early 2014. Both share a platform with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but were adapted for the US market. For example, it is wider and longer than the Giulietta. Jeep Cherokee also uses the platform. Eight models should use it in the future.

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Selling

Sales of traditional sedans and hatchbacks have been declining in the United States for years. However, this year seems to be worse than previous years. In the first seven months of this year, 4,253,803 vehicles were registered in the United States. That is 7.7 percent less than the same period in 2015. This does not include crossovers, SUVs and pickups. Sales of those cars increased. For example, 5,913,414 crossovers, pickups and SUVs were registered in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 9.1 percent. Surprisingly: the small car did well in the country. At 352,991 units up to and including July, sales are about 26.7 percent higher than in the same period in 2015.