Chrysler's been in crisis since at least '06, when the carmaker started taking heavy losses. Now comes the unfortunate downsizing. While they've announced they'll be expanding some engineering operations overseas, designers back home are getting the shaft: say goodbye to Chrysler's Pacifica Advance Product Design Center in California, which they've just announced they're shuttering. The rare design center focused on concepts for 15-20 years in the future.
Maybe we're biased, but um, does anyone know of any business stories where boosting engineering but axing design actually led to better results?
Not that Chrysler's alone in their new tack--Volvo's shedding the Californian design center they opened in 2001, and will be consolidating US design to their center in New Jersey.
sources: 1, 2, 3
Methinks the problem with Chrysler products is not their poor design, but rather that they somehow still can't manage to make money on extremely low quality products. Perhaps a little engineering investment will fix both of those problems......
Comments
Overseas companies are producing profits, with "low-cost-engineering, design & labor" they make MONEY! So Chrysler: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1) partner's and outsources with these companies, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2) closes down and eliminates redundant cost centers, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3) imports their partners product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4) makes it appealing to the U.S. market, raises price.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .
5) If making a profit, loop to step 3 and repeat.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6) Else, find another partner, loop to step 1 and repeat.