IMHO it is too late to pick the bones of Chrysler. It was prime for picking near bankruptcy, the Jeep logo and the 300,000 / yr Van run rate were worth grabbing, the rest forgetaboutit. IMHO with the “One Ford” mantra continuing and their focus on Lincoln I say Ford is not stupid enough to do this, GM on the other hand.... But I see someone like Nissan-French firm etc trying to grab them, I don’t see the synergies with GM frankly...
All about designs, I suspect. Once those go offshore, then you can’t get them back.
The word on the street is that Chrysler has been available for a long time to anyone who is willing to step up and buy them - for the last few decades, Chrysler has been like the old car that goes around the neighborhood with a perpetual for sale sign. I understand that the huge future debt load is the obstacle to finding buyers. (I don't know if or how the bailout might have affected that.) I had also heard a rumor that Nissan was at one time interested in acquiring the Ram line of trucks. I don't know how profitable the Ram trucks are but Ford sure makes a ton on their F-series trucks.