The Chrysler automobile manufacturer has been majority owned by several entities since it was first founded by Walter Chrysler in 1925, but its most recent rebirth may end up being its most profitable move.

Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 27, 2009, and announced a new partnership with Italian automaker Fiat. The move eventually canceled the contracts of 789 new vehicle dealerships, including five dealerships in Arizona.

Hatch Brothers Inc. Chrysler Jeep Dodge, located at 1623 Thatcher Blvd., was one of the approximatly 3,100 dealers selected to continue as a new vehicle dealership for Chrysler products. Hatch Brothers previously received a UPS package congratulating it on being chosen to move forward with the new Chrysler company.

Hatch Brothers owner Charlie Hatch said he plans on having his dealership operating for many years to come and is excited about Chrysler's new partnership with Fiat.

Charlie Hatch, owner of Hatch Brothers with his wife, Kathi, said he believed his lot's sales, customer satisfaction and the fact that all of his technicians are gold certified were some of the reasons it was chosen to remain a certified new vehicle dealership for Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge. The gold certification is the highest certification a technician can receive from Chrysler's schools. With it, Hatch Brothers is certified to work on all of the Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge products.

Hatch began selling automobiles in Safford with his brother in 1973 with the opening of Hacienda Honda. After the dealership burned, the brothers decided not to rebuild.

Hatch purchased his Chrysler dealership in 1989 and has remained in the same location for the past 20 years. He said his dealership has 33 employees and is excited that Chrysler is finished with its bankruptcy and is bringing in new Fiat models in 2011.

"All the factories were closed from the day they went into bankruptcy until (June) 11," Hatch said. "So they haven't built any cars, and our parts have really been short because all the suppliers quit shipping them, but we're all out of that and it is real progressive right now. They've changed a lot of the top management, so we're looking forward to it."

Hatch said while the 2010 models are basically what the company had before – with the exception of a new body style for the Dodge Heavy Duty diesel trucks – the new Fiats should be on the lots for the 2011 models.

"The main thing that Fiat is injecting into Chrysler is fuel economy – high-tech, fuel-economical cars," Hatch said.

Eventually, the Chrysler lineup will include the Fiat technology, and its vehicles will be more fuel economical as well. Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler, with the majority owned by the United Auto Workers union, according to Hatch.

Other Chrysler products aimed at limiting gas use are five electric vehicles from its ENVI lineup slated for production in the near future. Several of the vehicles are Chrysler favorites, including the Jeep Wrangler and Patriot and the Chrysler Town and County.

Those vehicles will be electric only for 40-mile commutes or less and will have a range extender gasoline engine that will run an electric generator. The range extender will allow for trips up to 400 miles on a minimal amount of gasoline, according to Chrysler's Web site.

The vehicles recharge by plugging into ordinary house outlets overnight and have zero fuel consumption and emissions in the 40-mile driving range per charge.

Hatch said he is proud to be a dealer for Chrysler's products and he intends to keep offering the vehicles in the Gila Valley for years to come.

"We're definitely here as a certified dealer for Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep," he said.

"We're not going anywhere. We've been here (for) 20 years, and we plan on being here for a long time in the future."