2009 Ram Interior Contract goes to Johnson & Visteon

[rbattelle]

Last week's Automotive News has an article that Lear, which has provided Ram interiors including seats and dashboards since 1994, will lose its contract with the re-design in 2009. The new contract goes to Johnson Controls and Visteon, who will each be taking different aspects of the interior. There's still a slim chance that Johnson or Visteon will sub-contract some items to Lear.



The rumor is that this is backlash on DC's part for Lear demanding price increases and threatening to stop production last year. DC sued them (successfully) to hold them to their original pricing contracts. Lear posted $1. 3 billion in losses last year. Of course, the DC spokesman claimed "we are not vindictive", but what about the rumored "punishing" of Dana in 2002 over arguments with the Jeep Grand Cherokee axles? [As an aside, Dana's doing very poorly while AAM seems to be doing extremely well despite a poor 4th quarter].



Visteon is in bad shape (let's face it, all suppliers are). I think Johnson Controls is doing "okay", at least relative to the rest of the supplier base. I think it will be very interesting to see what the new interiors will be like with new manufacturers. Also note that they will operate under DC's new supplier cooperation strategy they announced last year, wherein suppliers are brought in very early in the design process. Should be interesting.



Also note that the re-design will occur in 2008 for the 2009 MY. Does that mean, perhaps, that rumors of the venerable B5. 9 being replaced by a 6. 7L engine in 2007 are false? Perhaps they'll not replace the 5. 9 until the redesign in 2009?



-Ryan

 

[KCJackson]

Also note that the re-design will occur in 2008 for the 2009 MY. Does that mean, perhaps, that rumors of the venerable B5. 9 being replaced by a 6. 7L engine in 2007 are false? Perhaps they'll not replace the 5. 9 until the redesign in 2009?

The displacement change from 5. 9 to 6. 7 is a Cummins decision, not a Dodge decision. Cummins has already announced this change, and while DC gives Cummins plenty of business, it would make no sense for Cummins to re-engineer the 5. 9 to meet Jan 1 2007 emissions standards and build it just for Dodge, when they have already done this for the 6. 7. Here's the Cummins PDF on the 2007 changes... the displacement increase is mentioned on page 3: http://www.everytime.cummins.com/every/pdf/4103902.pdf. It is also possible that they will split the launches like they did in 2002 (light-duty) and 2003 (heavy-duty), so only the 1500 may come out for 2009.



Unlike my last Ram which I kept for almost 9 years, I think I'll be trading up for a 2010 model if I like the design... primarily to retain as much trade-in value of the 05 as possible.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Johnson Controls. Nooooooo. Say it isn't so. I hope their automotive engineers are better than their controls group.

 

[rbattelle]

it would make no sense for Cummins to re-engineer the 5. 9 to meet Jan 1 2007 emissions standards and build it just for Dodge, when they have already done this for the 6. 7.

But do the emissions requirements pertain to light duty trucks? I understand that Cummins has already gone to a 6. 7l, but if the emissions requirements don't apply to light-duty trucks then Dodge can continue to use the 5. 9. Are we certain the 5. 9 doesn't meet 2007 emissions requirements?



I'm just very skeptical about Dodge getting the 6. 7 next year since I've seen absolutely no word about it within the automotive press. Maybe I've missed something...



-Ryan

 

[Scrappy]

the emissions regs apply to ALL Diesels, they are also mandating ULSD fuel then also.

 

[Giachino]

Re the 6. 7 there was a mention of it in the current Truck Trends... . not much info, but at least something in print.

 

[rbattelle]

I stand corrected.



-Ryan

 

[rjohnson916]

I think I will be ready for a new truck by 2009. I will definitely be going Cummins again of course, be it in a Dodge, GM, Chevy etc... Also I'm not too worried about the engine going to a 6. 7L I think the only reliability concerns are with the emissions equipment. I heard Cummins has the most simple & effective emissions control devices so, as far as light duty diesel motors go Cummins should still be the most reliable. The biggest worry I have though is that will going from 5. 9L -to- 6. 7L = higher fuel consumption? I wouldn't be surprised if we see a significant bump in TQ/ subtle increase in HP and a lot of weight shedding in the frame & body structure i. e. following the next generation Silverado, Plastic front bumpers, grill etc... to keep fuel consumption barely tolerable. Guess we will see?



-Ryan

 

[TFucili]

Johnson Controls. Nooooooo. Say it isn't so. I hope their automotive engineers are better than their controls group.

They made the clunking seat tracks on my '95 Tahoe that were replaced three times before GM finally said, "the supplier cannot build them to spec, so we are not going to change them anymore. " :{



Hope they improved.