http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...9_FORTUNE5.htm

And here we thought the merger idea was dead. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this one. For instance, which truck survives, the Ram, the Silverado/Sierra, both?

 

probably the Silverado..

but if you are going to play like that...

Charger or Impala?

Avenger or Malibu?

etc etc

 

That was Bennett's idea. He's just one guy.
I didn't get the impression that any other Senator were thinking along those lines.

The CEOs were just agreeing to every question or scenario that different Senators were laying out.

 

GM is truly desperate and even they couldn't make a deal with Chrysler with Cerberus and some banks practically holding a (GMAC) gun to their head. I agree they are trying to look open to anything in the face of Senators with billions of their lifeblood dollars at stake. But this deal would bury both and they know it.

 

GM needs to get rid of their crappy brands; Not gain three more crappy brands.

 

one of the other senators was saying that a merger or buyout shouldn't be allowed if there is a bailout

 

That's easy. Say goodbye to Dodge anything and hello to Chevy Caravan.

 

Hello Jeep, Caravan and sell the ram to Nissan.

 

How about Sen. Corker from TN saying to Nardelli:
"You guys KNOW you're not going to be around much longer".

Nardelli was taken aback and a bit angered about that comment.

After watching Corker twice now, there's two conclusions I've drawn about him:
1) he just wants the unions to die
2) he is a d**khead


And Senator Shelby from Alabama. It was clear he didn't read any of the new presentations. When he would ask a question, the CEOs (and I remember Nardelli saying specifically) would respond with a statement like; "if you go to tab 10, page 17, you will see all the info you are asking for". And then after that he was just left sitting there, not saying anything, looking like a dolt.

 

These politicians need to be trained to think "American job benefits" when they hear UAW. Then they'll change their view a little.

 

I knew this would come up.

True on Corker.

And Shelby is just a hypocrite.

 

Easy:

Charger, with the 3.6 DI
Malibu, Avenger is not really avenging anything.

 

There is too much capacity in the US right now, and frankly there are far too many makes and models in market segments. Merging Chrysler with another manufacturer wouldn't fix this unless a big axe is taken to the company. In the case of a merger with GM, it probably makes sense to:

1) Retain the minivan and RWD large-car business
2) Replace Hummer with Jeep
3) Eliminate nearly every other Chrysler product line

GM would need to do this while trimming its own fat. That's a lot of work to do while dealing with the current business environment.

From an overall industry standpoint, it makes far more sense to merge Chrysler with a strong player, someone who can make the necessary improvements to the company's product and structure - but if that happens, then the cuts at GM and Ford would simply get larger, because there's not really enough customer demand to supply a strong Big 3 and all the transplants.

 

a merger should be on the table but it has to be carefully constructed and well thought out.

It must address alot of issues in order to be beneficial. Which brands, cars, etc survive the change is gonna be so unpredictable.

 

All three of the Detroit CEOs, especially Nardelli know that Chrysler is going to die and be merged with somebody; the only real question is "who".

Chrysler's owners don't seem to be willing to put one more penny into the company; they are just hanging around for a buyer; as such, there shouln't be one penny of tax dollars given to Chrysler just to make them look better to a potential partner although the marriage, whoever the other party turns out to be; shouldn't be mandated by Congress.