Chrysler, which was once one of the big three in the Australian car industry is quitting the continent.
It follows a decision by parent company Stellantis to withdraw the Chrysler brand from Australia which was the brand’s last remaining right-hand drive market.
The global push towards electrification and focus on SUVs has resulted in a consolidation of the overall product line-up in Australia, Stellantis’ subsidiary Fiat Chrysler Australia (FCA) says.
“Australian motoring enthusiasts have historically been fond of V8-powered sedans, which helped to cement the Chrysler brand as a foundation for those craving performance vehicles for decades,” says FCA managing director Kevin Flynn.
“Chrysler has held a special place in the heart of many Australians and we’re proud of its history here.”
Chrysler’s slant-six and V8 Valiants and Charger coupes vied in the 1960s and 1970s with Ford’s Falcon and Holden’s Kingswood, Monaro and Commodore for market supremacy and on the racetrack.
Chrysler Australia opened the Tonsley Park factory in Adelaide in 1964, and the Hemi six-cylinder engine, made exclusively for Australia, became the most powerful six-cylinder engine produced domestically.
The brand bows out with the Hemi 6.4-litre V8-powered Chrysler 300 SRT and less powerful 300C Luxury.
Join the conversation