Chrysler brand to leave UK and Ireland by 2017

Fiat Chrysler have announced they will be pulling out of the UK and Irish markets in 2017. Photos / Supplied

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced that its Chrysler brand will exit the UK and Ireland markets by 2017.

Karl Howkins, FCA's UK deputy managing director, told Autocar that dealers were informed of the decision yesterday. Howkins revealed to various publications that the decision was based on declining sales and a model range which was not favoured by increasingly tight CO2 legislation in the EU.

Prior to the announcement the Chrysler range in the UK consisted of three vehicles: the Ypsilon hatchback (pictured above and below), the Grand Voyager people mover and the 300C sedan.

According to AutoExpress, the 300C and the Grand Voyager have been removed from the range with immediate effect, while the Ypsilon will be sold on an order-only basis.

Back in 2010, Chrysler UK and Ireland began selling rebadged versions of the Fiat 500-based Lancia Ypsilon and the larger Lancia Delta (bottom), while on the mainland Lancia become the sole outlet for Chrysler vehicles, such as the Voyager, 300 and Sebring. The Chrysler Delta was dropped from the UK range in 2013 due to poor sales.

Last year in the UK, Chrysler sales fell over 21 percent to 1982 vehicles. Automotive News claims that a majority of these sales were of the Ypsilon hatch.

With a UK market share of 0.11 percent, Chrysler was ranked 34th in the best sellers list, ahead of Abarth, Ssangyong, Bentley and Maserati.

Howkins told multiple outlets that the company will now focus its attentions in the UK on the Jeep brand. The company is hoping that, with the launch of the small Renegade, Jeep UK will see its sales lift from last year's 3909.