Fiat Chrysler is set to end production for one of its most iconic models- the Dodge Viper. The 23-year-old car will be axed from the showrooms in 2017.
The car model had not been selling very well for the company in recent times, and its popularity faded as the years passed. Thus, manufacturing the hand-built automobile seemed to make less sense, as costs still incur in its development process. This is all a result of FCA's newly forged agreement with the United Automobile Workers. The Conner Avenue assembly plant located in Detroit seems to have an uncertain future ahead of itself, according to The Christian Science Monitor.
When Dodge had revived the Viper back in 2013 after a three-year hiatus, it had high hopes of achieving 1,600 units sold annually. But there were numerous heating issues with the car, and it didn't perform as expected. Additionally, at over $120,000, the Viper was more expensive than even the Corvette. Despite giving the Viper another shot in 2015 with a $15,000 price drop, only 503 units were sold, Yahoo! Autos reported.
Since the Viper is the only model being produced at the Conner Avenue Assembly in Detroit, Fiat Chrysler weren't too keen on keeping it running at a time when the Viper wasn't in demand at all. The production of the Viper in Conner started in 1995, and it will cease its production within the next two years. The FCA had to close down the Viper plant temporarily last year due to slow sales, according to Motor Trend.
While many car enthusiasts are unhappy about the sudden demise of the model, some are still hopeful that the FCA is taking a break from the car like it did back in 2010.
