As we all know, the American big three all find themselves in varying levels of financial difficulty. What they all need is a plan.Disappointing then that Chrysler didn’t wow us at the Detroit Auto Show with their new plan. Having just received four billion dollars from the American taxpayer, with another three in the pipeline, this was Chrysler’s opportunity to show us how they are going to rejuvenate this once great manufacturer. Chrysler sales VP Jim Press stated in a press conference at the show “We now have a special bond with the American public.” You certainly do. They pay your wages. For the time being that is.
So what’s the plan?
Ummmmmmmmmm.
Three hybrid concepts.
Nothing that will be rolled out in the early part of 2009 that will start making any money back for the company or the taxpayer. Nothing that in reality will be on the roads for another two to three years. Seven billion may be a huge number to us, but for a dinosaur like them it won’t last long.
These are just pipe dreams. The 200C EV shown above may be a decent looking car, but it is only a concept.
Chrysler needs to produce cars that sell in volume. Hybrid and fuel cell technology may be the way forward, however they do not sell in volume.
These are simply projects that they can show to the car czar to prove they aren’t wasting the money. Problem is though, they most certainly will be. Before Christmas, Cerberus made it quite clear that without a cash injection Chrysler would collapse. What’s changed? The money will be spent and the company will fail.
Ford and General Motors have good presence in the European markets. Chrysler doesn’t. With a shrinking market and no new rollouts the future would appear to be just as bleak now as it was before Christmas, possibly bleaker.
Chrysler will fail. Cerberus certainly won’t take the hit. So rather than waste more money. Let it. Use the seven billion dollars to support the supply chain. Failure to do so may just drag Ford and General Motors further into the mire.
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