Despite the fact that the beleaguered automaker has not yet turned a profit since its unceremonious departure from Daimler to Cerberus, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli says that the company is still on track. "Through the first quarter we are still on plan relative to the pro forma and the targets we established for 2008, in spite of some of the economic winds that are hitting us," he says. In order to turn last year's $1.6 billion loss into positive cash flow, Chrysler will be relying heavily on joint-partnerships like the one it just announced with Nissan (but probably not Fiat) as well as with new and advanced engineering. Nardelli highlights interiors, upcoming technology integration and alternative powertrains as potential new incoming-generating features for their line of vehicles.[Sources: Automotive News / The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gary Lowe @ Apr 21st 2008 7:53AM
Why does nothing Bob Nardelli say seem to have any credibility?
Sam @ Apr 21st 2008 7:56AM
here's an idea for chrysler:
why not scrap every model, and just focus on the high performance variants? Keep it low-volume, just enough to bypass the CAFE restrictions and then they can make sick cars that people would by that would make the company turn a...profit! Just an idea.
Frank @ Apr 21st 2008 8:19AM
Or,
they could just make good cars that just run, my 03 dakota is a champ, but maybe you could put the engine on a diet. - also the last year the dakota / durangos ever looked good...
just a thought.
vinny @ Apr 21st 2008 8:22AM
Nardelli why dont you go back to home depot...oh wait you cant because your worthless rump got canned. Heres a bright idea create cars people want to buy. Go back to the edgy styling that Chrysler had just a few years ago. The new Caravan is a decent minivan but man that toaster look has got to go.Can the caliber and build the razor as it was origionally designed.The 300 is the only thing that they have right now that is money. It seems all of there models when they go through redesign they have bored them down. For instance the old durango was just the right size and looked good. When they refreshed it in 04 they bloated it and ran it through the ugly bath.Mark my words Chrysler will not get turned around until they dump Nardelli. Giving people les choices and less places to make those choices does not raise sales which in turn raise profits.
Chris @ Apr 21st 2008 8:25AM
Why is everyone harping on Nardelli for Chrysler's line up?
Its not his fault it sucks, its will be his fault if three years into this and it hasn't changed.
Face it, the mercedes benz gang and Chrysler's former owners fleeced the company with their lawyer friends to the detriment of workers and the new owners
Cire @ Apr 21st 2008 11:38AM
I think they need to develop the Hornet with Nissan on the Versa's B platform. The platform, mechanicals, etc. are already suitable to meet U.S. vehicle requirements. Chrysler LLC needs an attractive subcompact to sell in the near future, not in the distant future when Chinese auto makers can finally get their act together.
What I think Chrysler LLC should do with their deal with Chery is offer to distribute Chery vehicles (when they are finally acceptable to sell in the U.S.) as Chery products. This would give Chrysler LLC a budget division of imported Chinese vehicles to sell below Dodge. I wouldn't risk tarnishing a Chrysler brand name (I know, I know, there are a lot of people who think that all their brands are already tarnished) by attaching it to products with unproven quality. Chrysler LLC already has enough challenges ahead of them without trying to clear an additional possibly negative hurdle.
Jrejre @ Apr 21st 2008 4:17PM
That sounds pretty logical except that chrysler would have to put forward A LOT of money to establish the chery name in the U.S. and all that money needs to go towards saving the chrysler name first.
The nissan deal is sounding a lot better to me than this chery one. They should attempt to hook up with nissan for the demon as well.