Dodge Dart debut to shift from April 1

3/6/2012

GENEVA -- Sergio Marchionne, chairman of Fiat SpA and Chrysler Group LLC, which is controlled by Fiat, said Tuesday he may shift the date of the Dodge Dart’s production launch away from April 1 to “to avoid being jinxed” by an April Fool’s Day launch.

The Dodge Dart is the first Chrysler model to use Fiat architecture under the nearly three-year-old alliance.

Mr. Marchionne on Tuesday called the Dodge Dart “a huge step forward in terms of moving the brand into the American heartland.”