Chrysler is for sale... Daimler sick of the losses

[Rick]

http://www.businessweek.com/globalb...0.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe_today's+top+story

It's hard to believe Chrysler is still losing money. They have a load of hot cars and trucks. I like the Ram, Charger, Neon SRT, 300, and Viper, They should kick themselves in the ass for not releasing a 2 door version of the Charger along side the 4 door. I've talked to a lot of people who love the look of the Charger, but would never buy a 4 door. I don't blame them, I'm the same way.

The big three should all kick themselves in the ass, for not having had new, fuel efficient cars, developed, and sitting in the wings, waiting for the next oil crisis. They let the Japanese and this time the Koreans too, beat them to the punch again...

 

[JDraper]

Their pension plan, health plan and unions are killing their profitability...just like Ford's...

 

[BryanB]

Their pension plan, health plan and unions are killing their profitability...just like Ford's...

+1

 

[BryanB]

soooo looking foreward to the new Challenger.

 

[Hokie]

Their pension plan, health plan and unions are killing their profitability...just like Ford's...

Yet somehow Cummins is posting record quarters, opening NEW domestic manufacturing plants and has strong health/pension plans and labor unions to boot.....

 

[Rick]

Foreign automakers who build in the US have to deal with the same union.

Foreign automakers weren't caught with their pants around their ankles when US gas prices hit $3 a gallon. Americans found plenty of "green" foreign cars to choose from and voted with their wallets. America's offerings looked pretty dismal compared to the competition so, they lost market share to companies who were on the scene with a better product.

 

[JDraper]

Foreign automakers who build in the US have to deal with the same union.

Not entirely true. I deal with a "foreign manufacturer" with a plant in Anna, OH and they do not have the UAW in their facility. Some locations and manufacturers managed to avoid the unions.


All of the manufacturers that do have unions have different contracts. Each mfg forges their own contract provisions with the union. The problem is that when the American car companies were fat, dumb and happy, they let the unions put forth some contracts that were very fat for the unions and didn't do anything to control costs in a reasonable manner. Now that there is stiff competition, these union contracts are strangling the profitability of the companies. When you have janitors pulling down 80k+/year and destructive testers getting paid close to 6 figures a year to check welds on 2 fenders per shift...something is WRONG.....

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I won't by a Chrysler product because of the problems I & my mom have had in the past with them.

There is a guy at work that bought a PT Cruiser 3-4 years ago & it was in the shop more than it was on the road.