Possible end of Chrysler / Cummins Contract

[jelag]

For years, diesel-powered Dodge Ram pickup trucks have featured powerful inline six-cylinder engines from Cummins. By all accounts, the partnership has been successful and the Cummins diesel engines are highly regarded in the industry. Therefore, it wasn't exactly shocking to hear that the planned light duty diesel engine for the Ram 1500 pickup would be sourced from Cummins.



Not long ago, Chrysler's bankruptcy allowed the automaker to cancel contracts that were no longer desirable for the automaker moving forward. The deal with Cummins for the light duty diesel was one such contract, though later reports indicated that the deal could potentially be revived. According to an unnamed source quoted by Automotive News (sub. req'd), though, that pairing may be in jeopardy.



In place of the Cummins diesel engine may very well be an oil-burning powerplant from Fiat, the Italian automaker that recently partnered up with the Chrysler. In related news, Chrysler may possibly withdraw from its joint venture with Hyundai and Mitsubishi to produce the World Engine that's currently used in a number of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. As you may have guessed, the replacement powerplants would almost surely be sourced from Fiat.



[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

 

[2Rowdy]

With fiat in the picture it is comming. I don't believe it will be all bad. Flame on.

 

[mwilson]

Someday some corporate fool in Chrysler is going to screw up the Cummins deal, they just won't be able to leave it alone. Remember when Daimler was tossing the idea out about having the Mercedes Diesel put in the pick-ups??? The outcry was loud, of course but it is still a minor miracle that it did not happen. They (Daimler) are pushing, pushing to get customers on board with the all Mercedes powertrain (Engines, Transmissions, Steer Axles and Drive Axles) in the Freightliner trucks. Think about that, they are trying to oust customer loyalties to brands like Arvin/Meritor, Eaton/Spicer/Fuller, Cummins and Caterpillar. The point of this is that any manufacturer prefers to sell their own products as there is more money to be made and more control over what takes place in the operation.

But I do believe that Ford would dump the new diesel engine that they are going with and pounce like a rabid dog on the 6. 7L if Chrysler is ever stupid enough to tinker with the Cummins relationship in regards to that powerplant. #@$%!

 

[HBarlow]

I am not prepared to believe or even be concerned about the possibility of Fiat/Chrysler/UAW forcing Dodge trucks division to drop the Cummins ISB engine in favor of a Fiat. I just don't think anyone is that stupid. It would be cheaper over the long haul to simply announce that Dodge truck division was halting production and taking down the signs. The result would be the same.

If they are and prove me wrong I already own a nice '08 3500 C&C that I special ordered with the equipment and options I wanted. It does a fine job of pulling my 14,000# HitchHiker fifth wheel and now has only 60k miles on the odometer.

If the Cummins engine is not offered in future Dodge Rams I will keep the one I own. I wouldn't own a Fiat engine any sooner than I would own a Ferd/Ferd or Government Motors/Isuzu.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I "followed" Cummins to Dodge. I'm on my fourth Cummins powered Dodge, but I'm not "married" to Fiat/Chrysler/Dodge. In the future if Cummins moves, I'll "follow" where it goes. If Cummins engines become no longer available in the light duty trucks, I'll keep what I have which will probably outlast me.



Bill

 

[kowaliga]

Fiat owns Cummings!

 

[amsoilman]

Fiat owns Cummings!

Fiat may own "CUMMINGS", but they do NOT own CUMMINS!

 

[Bill Stockard]

But I do believe that Ford would dump the new diesel engine that they are going with and pounce like a rabid dog on the 6. 7L...

:-laf:-laf:-laf



Bill

 

[Jim W]

I was contacted last month from Dodge for a survey on trucks. In the Survey one of the questions asked was. Would I buy a Dodge branded diesel engine in the RAM heavy duty pickup truck? My answer was No. I said the only reason I bought the Dodge was do to the Cummins engine. I pointed out that the value of the Dodge platform was the Cummins engine, with out that they were no better then Chevy/Ford.

I had a follow up questions from Dodge after I submitted the survey asking why I felt the Cummins engine was so important to me? Here is the follow up question.





"We would like to thank you for expressing your opinions in the recent survey regarding Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks. Your input will be used to create better vehicles for consumers like YOU! Based on your answers, we would like to ask you one more question regarding these types of engines.



If a diesel engine was available in a Dodge RAM heavy duty pickup truck that is branded as a DODGE DIESEL ENGINE, how likely would you be to consider purchasing the engine?



5 Definitely would consider purchasing



4 Probably would consider purchasing



3 Might or might not consider purchasing



2 Probably would not consider purchasing



1 Definitely would not consider purchasing



You may respond to this e-mail and indicate the number of the answer choice that best describes your likelihood to purchase.



Again, we thank you for sharing your opinions and appreciate you taking the time to answer this final question. In respect of your privacy and time, we will not contact you again after this e-mail.



My answer was 1.

So in closing, I think the marketing team is thinking about this subject.

 

[Grizzly]

Someday some corporate fool in Chrysler is going to screw up the Cummins deal, they just won't be able to leave it alone. Remember when Daimler was tossing the idea out about having the Mercedes Diesel put in the pick-ups??? The outcry was loud, of course but it is still a minor miracle that it did not happen. They (Daimler) are pushing, pushing to get customers on board with the all Mercedes powertrain (Engines, Transmissions, Steer Axles and Drive Axles) in the Freightliner trucks. Think about that, they are trying to oust customer loyalties to brands like Arvin/Meritor, Eaton/Spicer/Fuller, Cummins and Caterpillar. The point of this is that any manufacturer prefers to sell their own products as there is more money to be made and more control over what takes place in the operation.

But I do believe that Ford would dump the new diesel engine that they are going with and pounce like a rabid dog on the 6. 7L if Chrysler is ever stupid enough to tinker with the Cummins relationship in regards to that powerplant. #@$%!

That possibility will never happen because Furd will not retool to produce a larger engine bay to fit the straight 6 cylinder Cummins. Another reason is that the high low end torque of the mighty Cummins would blow out any transmission Furd has.



I just don't believe that Chrysler/Dodge is dumb enough to drop the best engine in their corral for an iffy unknown engine. At least unknown in the US.

 

[jgillott]

Cummins is in the business of selling engines. I'm sure that they will find a company to sell their product to if/when Chrysler would opt out of their contract. I'll tell you this, when I need a new truck, I'll learn to love whatever truck is wrapped around a Cummins if they indeed end up somewhere else.

 

[HBarlow]

I guess I and perhaps many of you also take it for granted that corporate Chrysler/Dodge understand where our loyalty comes from and how it could would quickly fade away if the Cummins engine part of the Dodge-Cummins team was taken out of the product mix.

Their may be hundreds of (empty) suits with blow-dried hair in Auburn Hills, MI who drive Chrysler/Dodge sedans or 1/2 ton pickups and think they understand Dodge truck buyers. We probably have no idea what turmoil is going on at corporate Fiat/Chrysler/Dodge with the empty suits struggling to figure out whose *** to kiss next and we don't know who is pulling their strings.

Fiat may be calling the shots. Who knows what desperate middle aged guys faced with losing their jobs may decide to do?

If they are dumb enough to replace the mighty Cummins engine, a proud old American brand and an excellent product, manufactured by union employees, with imported Fiat crap they are in for major disappointments.

Maybe nobama will offer $25,000 buyer incentives to those who buy a new Dodge-Fiat and Fiat will offer dealer rebates of another $10,000 to buyers. Fannie Mae or Freddy Mac can offer no down/low interest mortgages for the remainder then forgive the debt when the first three payments are missed. They might sell a few that way.

But not to me. I buy and drive ONLY Dodge Cummins trucks.

 

[AHofner]

Pipe dream

For us Case IH fans, it would be kinda cool to get an Iveco motor (same one used in the Class 7,8, and 9 combines as well as the Steigers) in a dodge truck that was painted International Red.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

For years, diesel-powered Dodge Ram pickup trucks have featured powerful inline six-cylinder engines from Cummins. By all accounts, the partnership has been successful and the Cummins diesel engines are highly regarded in the industry. Therefore, it wasn't exactly shocking to hear that the planned light duty diesel engine for the Ram 1500 pickup would be sourced from Cummins.



Not long ago, Chrysler's bankruptcy allowed the automaker to cancel contracts that were no longer desirable for the automaker moving forward. The deal with Cummins for the light duty diesel was one such contract, though later reports indicated that the deal could potentially be revived. According to an unnamed source quoted by Automotive News (sub. req'd), though, that pairing may be in jeopardy.



In place of the Cummins diesel engine may very well be an oil-burning powerplant from Fiat, the Italian automaker that recently partnered up with the Chrysler. In related news, Chrysler may possibly withdraw from its joint venture with Hyundai and Mitsubishi to produce the World Engine that's currently used in a number of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. As you may have guessed, the replacement powerplants would almost surely be sourced from Fiat.



[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

This is old "news" that pertains to the 5. 0L V8 Cummins. Has absolutely NOTHING to do with the 6. 7 I6.

 

[opjohnny]

The fact that Ford could sell 6. 0 and 6. 4 trucks with the known problems they have had should tell you that Dodge could still sell a heavy duty truck with a Fiat Diesel. We the well informed members of this forum are but a small % of Dodge truck buyers /owners. I believe most buyers hear the diesel part but don't understand the importance of the Cummins part. It won't happen overnight but it is in the future if Fiat remains the owner. To much money to save. sad

 

[kowaliga]

Fiat may own "CUMMINGS", but they do NOT own CUMMINS!

'das rite... Ford owns Cummins !

 

[kowaliga]

Cummins is in the business of selling engines. I'm sure that they will find a company to sell their product to if/when Chrysler would opt out of their contract. I'll tell you this, when I need a new truck, I'll learn to love whatever truck is wrapped around a Cummins if they indeed end up somewhere else.

Reading about the Dakar rally, Kamaz boasts about its perpetual winners. . 'with the mighty Cummins engines'. These are the large 3-axel vehicles from Russia that can and do go anywhere.

 

[EGroeneveld]

If Dodge and Cummins split I will be forced to look at all three brands again, if Cummins went into the Ford I would be driving another Ford besides my Excursion with the 6. 0. Depending on price, warranty, power ratings etc... I could still end up with a Dodge/Fiat diesel.

 

[jgillott]

Reading about the Dakar rally, Kamaz boasts about its perpetual winners. . 'with the mighty Cummins engines'. These are the large 3-axel vehicles from Russia that can and do go anywhere.

The 5. 9L and now the 6. 7L can be found in everthing from farm equipment, to busses, to gen sets etc. It's bonus for us that if found it's way in to our trucks 20 odd years ago.



As others have said, it is no slam dunk that if Dodge/Fiat would drop Cummins as their Diesel engine supplier, that the 6. 7L would immediately find its way in to a GM, Ford, Toyota, etc. But I'm sure that it will land somewhere.

 

[Wingate]

I "followed" Cummins to Dodge. I'm on my fourth Cummins powered Dodge, but I'm not "married" to Fiat/Chrysler/Dodge. In the future if Cummins moves, I'll "follow" where it goes. If Cummins engines become no longer available in the light duty trucks, I'll keep what I have which will probably outlast me.



Bill

I'll follow it for awhile, as long as it doesn't go to GM..... I would love to have the option of a Cummins in a King Ranch..... There is apparently a stormy history between Cummins and Fiat so I see Fiat either moving the Ram Heavy Duty truck division out on their own so they can continue to use the Cummins without a conflict of interest, or Cummins may leave on their terms due to slow sales, payments not being made, and their general distrust of Fiat.

Either way, my 5. 9l will be running long after the truck is worn out !