| Subject: |
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A dirty rearview mirror? |
| Name: |
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MoparNorm |
| Date Posted: |
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Jan 3, 08 - 8:15 AM |
| IP Address: |
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71.119.192.201 |
| Email: |
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moparnorm@hotmail.com |
| Dodge-Link |
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http://imageevent.com/moparnorm/hollister2007 |
| Message: |
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From the NY Times, a pessimistic report on Chrysler's 2007.
Typical NY Times reporting, but it does point out what needs to be fixed.
A Year to Forget at Chrysler
By LAWRENCE ULRICH
Published: December 30, 2007
IF General Motors managed to shake things up in 2007, things were just shaky for Chrysler. First came the dissolution of its nine-year marriage to Daimler, an icy and bitterly unproductive union whose few proud offspring included the Chrysler 300.
The automaker got snapped up for chump change by Cerberus Capital Management and redubbed Chrysler L.L.C. A private-equity company, Cerberus said it would revive Chrysler rather than strip it and flip it, but that promise struck some skeptical analysts and the United Automobile Workers as Gordon Gekko redux. Cerberus raised more eyebrows when it hired Robert Nardelli, the ousted head of Home Depot and car industry newbie as chief executive, rather than a proven car guy, like Wolfgang Bernhard, who was once Chrysler’s No. 2 executive and advised Cerberus in its negotiations with DaimlerChrysler.
After Cerberus took over in August, it fell to Mr. Nardelli to announce more bad news, including a projected $1.6 billion loss for 2007, additional cuts in production, the loss of 13,000 jobs, and the end of slumping models like the PT Cruiser.
Mr. Nardelli also recently parted ways with Jason Vines, Chrysler’s outspoken public relations chief, a sign perhaps that the famously publicity-shy Cerberus intended to run Chrysler on a need-to-know basis.
Most perplexing was how a company famed for bold, breakthrough styling — think Dodge Viper — could have lost its mojo so quickly. Chrysler’s year will be remembered for a nearly unbroken string of misfires, including the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Compass and Chrysler Aspen. Many models fell short both outside and in. If there had been an industry award for worst interiors, Chrysler would have grabbed it with all 10 thumbs, after filling its new models with enough chintzy, ill-fitting plastic to make old Daewoos look good.
To cap off its year to forget, the company’s 2008 Chrysler 300 was supposed to forge a fresh start with a richer, more refined interior. Instead, Automotive News reported that a supplier’s quality glitch forced Chrysler to ship about 25,000 base models with last year’s obsolete interior parts. (No word on what kind of discounts the company will offer, or whether dealers will be informing buyers of the bait-and-switch).
It’s enough to make any Chrysler loyalist ask: Where’s Lee Iacocca when you need him? |
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