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Chrysler PT Cruiser stays in production after all

July 6, 3:01 PMAuto Review ExaminerJohn Matras
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2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

In a funny twist of fate, a Chrysler styled to look like a Ford and built in Mexico has been saved by an Italian. In other words, the Chrysler PT Cruiser has had a stay of execution and for the time being will stay in production.
 
The PT Cruiser assembly line in Toluca, Mexico, was scheduled to run dry this summer, but Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne decided to keep the retro-Ford-styled compact wagon in production. Marchionne apparently saw a future for the idiosyncratic Chrysler, and as CEO of Fiat, Sergio Marchionne has had much experience with idiosyncratic small cars.
 
Actually, although PT Cruiser sales are off from a peak of 144,717 in 2001, there were still 50,910 sold last year, and that with no advertising support. With the tooling fully amortized, production costs low and the alternative of an idle factory, keeping the PT Cruiser around for a little longer just makes sense.
 
Illustration: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Photo courtesy Chrysler Group LLC
 
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