VAT reclaimable
Chrysler was founded by Walter Percy Chrysler in 1924, who had previously bought the Maxwell-Chalmer plants. The company merged with Daimler Benz in 1998 to form Daimler Chrysler in a successful mega-fusion. The company’s headquarters are located in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The beginnings of Chrysler
After Walter Percy Chrysler had used his time at Buick and GM to collect valuable experiences, he wanted to show that he could make it himself: The Chrysler Six was technologically advanced and an instant hit. With breaks on all four wheels, the Six featured some technology that was uncommon for its time. In addition, the car offered great quality at an affordable price. One year after its release, Walter Percy moved to found the Chrysler Corporation.
In 1928, Chrysler took over its competitor Dodge and founded the brands De Soto and Plymouth. The Chrysler Airflow, released in 1934, was the first car to be designed in a wind tunnel.
The year 1951 saw the release of the first hemi-engine, named for its hemispherical combustion chambers. Another turning point for Chrysler was the switch to self-supporting bodies in 1960.
Brand acquisitions by Chrysler
Towards the end of the 1950s, Chrysler took over the Simca and Talbot brands, as well as the British Rootes Group which owned the brands Hillman, Humber, Singer, and Sunbeam. However, Chrysler struggles to establish itself in the European market. This led the the sale of the aforementioned brands and to great losses in the 1970s. It would take until the beginning of the 90s for profits and the companies situation to stabilize. The pinnacle of the brand’s history was the merger with Daimler-Benz to form the Daimler Chrysler corporation. Due to turbulences resulting from the financial crisis, the company was almost forced to shut down in 2007. Since 2011, Italian car manufacturer FIAT is the majority owner of the company.