Chrysler not burning cash, sees savings: Fiat CEO

Link (http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Autos/idUSTRE5A34GX20091104)

it closed out with $5.7 billion in cash, up from $4 billion when it exited its U.S.-sponsored bankruptcy in June.

Wow, wow, wow, its amazing what a bankruptcy can do for you. Chrysler's sales are down 33% year over year, which is saying a lot considering their sales a year ago were down that much from the year before. And they have apparently MADE $1.7 billion in the last 5 months? Has our country fallen through a rabbit hole?

Here's Chrysler's big plan for the next 5 years.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/chryslers-5-year-business-plan-the-product-breakdown/

I'll sum it up for all of you. All of Chrysler's vehicles are going to be replaced by Fiat products.

Nothing even partially electric, or hybrid!

Sounds pretty much like what we all thought would happen to Chrysler. Good luck to them. If they fail again, I'm pretty sure that's the end of them.

I am hoping that they indeed have a "secret" project to electrify the Alfa Romeo Competizione.

Link (http://www.alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/NEWALFA_COM/controller/models/models.aspx?language=1&category=PB_TMPL_SHOWROOM%7C/MENU/8C)

Chrysler's unit sales are tanking; they're less than half of 2007 levels. Chrysler's transaction prices are, likewise, tanking. Half off MSRP is actually not uncommon, after all givebacks.

So, gross revenue is off by at least 50%, very likely more and Chrysler's cash position improved by $1.7e9 in the last few months? How is this even possible?

Chrysler's unit sales are tanking; they're less than half of 2007 levels. Chrysler's transaction prices are, likewise, tanking. Half off MSRP is actually not uncommon, after all givebacks.

So, gross revenue is off by at least 50%, very likely more and Chrysler's cash position improved by $1.7e9 in the last few months? How is this even possible?

Basically due to union deals and shedding of debt apparently. I can't think of any other ways. I wonder how GM is doing.

We all wonder how GM is doing. But GM ain't talkin'. There doesn't even seem to be a date for "financial results" on the investor calendar. Of course, they aren't publicly traded, anymore, so I'm not sure what their reporting obligations are.

Here's Chrysler's big plan for the next 5 years.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/chryslers-5-year-business-plan-the-product-breakdown/

I'll sum it up for all of you. All of Chrysler's vehicles are going to be replaced by Fiat products.

Nothing even partially electric, or hybrid!

Sounds pretty much like what we all thought would happen to Chrysler. Good luck to them. If they fail again, I'm pretty sure that's the end of them.

What is the American obsession with electric and hybrid cars? Fiat, according to the European Union, produce the lowest emission and most fuel efficient mass production vehicles for any manufacturer. They are the only manufacturer, including all the hybrid manufacturers, to meet the EU 2010 objective of <140gCO2/km average vehicle emissions. My wife's Fiat Panda with 1.3l JTD commonrail engine achieves >70mpg, <110gCO2/km. Fiat are launching commonrail 3 and their new patented camless "multiair" engine in 2010, with vehicles that can achieve >100mpg & <70gCO2/km. Hybrid doesn't come anywhere near this!

European manufacturers have focused heavily on ICE innovation, partly in the expectation that hybrids/electric vehicles are a stop gap technology before fuel cell comes on line. If our objective is to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency, why are you so quick to criticise FIAT who have succeeded in reducing emission and improving fuel efficiency more that any other manufacturer. I would have expected Americans to welcome the fact that this kind of high efficiency ICE technology would be available?

What is the American obsession with electric and hybrid cars? Fiat, according to the European Union, produce the lowest emission and most fuel efficient mass production vehicles for any manufacturer. They are the only manufacturer, including all the hybrid manufacturers, to meet the EU 2010 objective of <140gCO2/km average vehicle emissions. My wife's Fiat Panda with 1.3l JTD commonrail engine achieves >70mpg, <110gCO2/km. Fiat are launching commonrail 3 and their new patented camless "multiair" engine in 2010, with vehicles that can achieve >100mpg & <70gCO2/km. Hybrid doesn't come anywhere near this!

European manufacturers have focused heavily on ICE innovation, partly in the expectation that hybrids/electric vehicles are a stop gap technology before fuel cell comes on line. If our objective is to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency, why are you so quick to criticise FIAT who have succeeded in reducing emission and improving fuel efficiency more that any other manufacturer. I would have expected Americans to welcome the fact that this kind of high efficiency ICE technology would be available?

Conbar777, you are right. I like that our big 3 have each taken a separate route to address the new mileage / emissions standards. Fiat / Chrysler is chasing minicars with high efficiency engines. Ford is producing hybrids to compete directly with Toyota and Honda. GM is leaping ahead with the Volt and fuel cell vehicles.