A "K" Car is too big for today's market think smaller...Think Cricket!
Posted on 11/04/2009 11:23:15 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Fiat's grand plan for Chrysler's revival sounds awfully familiar. Possible, but still a dream.
Chrysler's five-year recovery plan announced Wednesday reveals some good news but a lot of dreams and promises of great improvements. The good news was how its cash had grown by $1.7 billion, to $5.7 billion at the end of September, plus $200 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Of course, Chrysler got $12 billion in help from the government.
The dreams involved about everything else: new products to come, new engines, new quality, new manufacturing processes, a doubling of sales per dealer, $3 billion in savings coming from purchasing. The problem with dreams, as one Chrysler executive in the program said, those in the audience are saying, "I've heard all this crap before."
He's right: many listeners have heard all this from Chrysler, and others, too.
It won't be easy at Chrysler, which today is winning around just 8% of the car/truck market, and only with large incentives. In all last year, Chrysler had an 11% share. And three-fourths of the sales are trucks, meaning pickups and minivans and Jeeps. To meet coming fuel economy standards, Chrysler must develop a huge new markets for its cars.
Much of the information was as rumored in past weeks: A new Fiat (FIATY.PK) four-cylinder engine will be available in the fourth quarter of next year, and there will be some vehicles based on Fiat platforms; a new small car (competing, for example, with the Ford Focus), and a new family-size car, replacing the Dodge and Chrysler models out now that would compete, for example, with the Toyota (TM) Camry. These will be built on Fiat platforms. The larger cars on rear-drive platforms will be redone and even offer four-cylinder engines.
Some of the information reported in
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Hyundai...Just a thought.
I guarantee that my next new car will not be made by any UAW occupied company.
I will not willingly spend a dime to support the UAW or any other union enterprise. Unfortunately I have little say in where politicians spend my tax dollars.
And 789 less dealers with a lot of ex-customers and ex-employees who will never buy another new Chrysler product again.
My next company car is a Dodge Journey. No joke the dealership called to tell me the car is at a rail yard in Mexico. I’m thinking, how much in tax $$ did this company get?
I will never buy from GM/Chrysler - they stole my tax dollars and will never get a willing purchase. I'm boycotting the TARP/Bailout companies forever. I'm skeptical on Ford, as a UAW company, but I'd at least consider them. Most likely, I'll get a foreign model.
What about the dreams of those companies forced out of business by them? What about the pension systems cheated by the Obama-imposed deal?
I will not. Ford, like the others, have supported leftist causes in the form of billions of dollars.
I buy used cars, mostly German...
A Fiat “K” car?
A "K" Car is too big for today's market think smaller...Think Cricket!
We don't have to worry about giving them our money, the government is doing that for us! We bailed out their massive health care program and I guarantee you the money will keep flooding in ($10 billion alone in the health care bill). Remember, their health plan includes: health, prescription, dental, HEARING ANS VISION. They keep it FOR LIFE - no medicare for them at age 65! And they don't even want to pay taxes on the perks.
What about the investments of the secured bond holders who had their money literally stolen away by the government and given to the thug-goon unions?
Forgot about them (wonder why).
I think bigger: "K" 2500 HD Chevy (pre Gov Mot)
Chrysler is finally dead. Put a fork in it.
For years as a Ford salaried employee, I listened to this or that union goon mouth off that, “you guys don’t do nuthin’ we’re the ones that build ‘em and creat the value.” Now the UAW and its CEO Maobama control two car companies. I gave up waiting for them to show us how its done and really produce some marketplace winners. I guess they showed us how importanat they are to the process.
Kind of like when the dog chases a car and catches it...
Let’s not forget Italy’s 23 Americans (CIA) convicted yesterday for ‘abducting’ a muslim cleric. Also, this happened under zero’s watch.
Ditto that. They're making good stuff these days.
Citi , money gone, AIG 180 gone, Chrysler Money gone and GM we gave have more money in them since their stock peaked in 1999. Most of that money is to Unions and Bankers.
NO way I’ll buy a chevy or chrysler again.
The govt. car companies can kiss my hairy butt.
Gee, I’m glad you’re not mad at me ... (bump) ;-)
And we all know there are no leftist unions in Germany. Scheesh. I will not buy a car from a government owned auto company, but I will buy from Ford when the time comes.
I will keep my money as close to home as possible.
They are used cars. BMW profits tanked recently by over 70%. I wouldn't buy their new, overpriced automobiles.
Not even, just don’t go on welfare and expect ME to take money I earned and take it from MY family to give to U.
Specially if you are some pathetic corporation or govt. lackey.
The pension systems are in that group.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.