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14 years ago
1925Walter P. Chrysler forms Chrysler Corp. from the Maxwell Motor Co.
1928Plymouth and DeSoto brands debut; Dodge Brothers Inc. purchased.
1929Chrysler joins Ford Motor Co. and General Motors as one of the "Big 3" U.S. automakers; Walter Chrysler begins construction of the Chrysler Building in New York, with 77 floors, then the world's tallest building.
1942Vehicle production suspended in favor of war production.
1951Hemi V-8 engine designed with hemispherical combustion chambers.
1958Chrysler buys stake in French car company Simca and begins selling Simca vehicles in the United States.
1961DeSoto brand dropped.
1964Plymouth Barracuda debuts, followed two weeks later by the Ford Mustang kicking off the "muscle car" era.
1970Chrysler begins selling imported vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors Corp. as Dodge and Plymouth models.
1971Chrysler buys equity stake in Mitsubishi.
1978European operations sold to Peugeot-Citroen; former Ford executive Lee Iacocca appointed Chrysler president.
1980President Jimmy Carter signs the Chrysler Corp. Loan Guarantee Act, providing $1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees; Chrysler marine division sold.
1981Defense division sold to General Dynamics.
1982Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant "K cars'' debut, spurring financial recovery.
1983Federal loan guarantees paid off seven years ahead of schedule.
1984Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager debut, creating the minivan segment; Chrysler acquires 15.6 percent of Officine Alfieri Maserati S.p.A.; The U.S. automaker reorganizes as a holding company consisting of Chrysler Motors, Chrysler Financial, Gulfstream Aerospace and Chrysler Technologies.
1985Chrysler and Mitsubishi create Diamond-Star Motors to build small cars in Illinois.
1986The 7-year/70,000-mile drivetrain warranty introduced.
1987American Motors Corp., including Jeep, acquired for $800 million; Eagle brand introduced; Chrysler buys Nuova Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
1988Agreement signed with Fiat allows Chrysler to sell Alfa Romeo vehicles in the United States.
1989Agreement signed with Steyr-Daimler-Puch to produce minivans in Europe; Chrysler Technologies sold; New Venture Gear established with GM, the first joint venture between two American automakers; Pentastar Transportation Group Inc. set up, consisting of four rental-car companies.
1991Mitsubishi holdings sold; Alfa Romeo distribution agreement ended.
1992Lamborghini sold to MezaTech Ltd.
1993Bob Eaton succeeds Iacocca as chairman.
1994Chrysler reports record profit of $3.7 billion.
1995Chrysler fends off hostile takeover attempt led by investor Kirk Kerkorian.
1996New headquarters dedicated in Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Mich.
1997Phaseout of Eagle brand announced.
1998Chrysler Corp. and Daimler-Benz AG combine to create DaimlerChrysler AG.
2000Dieter Zetsche named Chrysler CEO, replacing Jim Holden.
2001Production of Plymouth brand ends.
2003Construction begins on Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant in Dundee, Mich., with Mitsubishi and Hyundai Motor Co. as partners.
2007DaimlerChrysler sells 80.1 percent of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management LP for $7.4 billion. Bob Nardelli replaces Tom LaSorda as CEO.
2008U.S. sales fall 30 percent as losses climb to $8 billion; President George W. Bush grants $4 billion in rescue loans.
2009Chrysler announces plan to form an alliance with Fiat S.p.A.; President Barack Obama rejects Feb. 17 viability plan and denies request for additional aid; Chrysler files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.