Report: Dodge to rebadge Journey as Fiat Freemont for Europe

Dodge has been selling its Journey people mover in Europe for a year, but following dismal sales, they will try it under a Fiat badge instead.

Although many European transplant brands enjoy a healthy share of the U.S. market, U.S. automakers rarely enjoy similar chunks of market share in Europe. At Fiat-Chrysler, the top brass is hoping that the Dodge branding of the Journey was the reason the people mover is hardly moving from dealer lots - and as such, has ordered a Fiat-branded version to hit the market next year.

According to the latest report, Chrysler Group will pull the plug on the Journey and begin selling a Fiat-branded model known as the Freemont by June of 2011, says Automotive News. The Freement, according to AN's sources, will recieve a minor cosmetic overhaul inside and out to five the minivan a unique appeal, as well as adjustments to the vehicle's suspension in order to better match European tastes.

Of course, a diesel powertrain will also make its way into the Freemont, but this time the 2.0-liter diesel will be Fiat's own 170 horsepower unit, rather than the 140 horsepower 2.0-liter unit currently being sourced from Volkswagen for the Dodge Journey.

Fiat-Chrysler anticipate much stronger sales of the Freemont not only because of the stronger brand equity in the Fiat name in Europe, but also due to the replacement of the current Fiat minivan, the Ulysse, by the upcoming Freemont. It is worth mentioning that the Dodge Journey did actually increase sales by 62 percent, sales still topped out at 8,395 units.

By contrast, top selling vans from Ford, the S-Max and Galaxy, came in at 42,991 units and 26,103 units, respectively, for 2009.

It is expected that the overhauled Journey-turned-Freement will first debut at next year's Geneva Auto Show in March, and quickly head to Fiat dealer lots across Europe by June.



References
1.'Fiat will sell a rebadged...' view