Chrysler has been quietly attempting to jettison its high-performance Dodge Viper lineup in a bid to raise much-needed cash and, according to the company’s top PR man, co-President Jim Press, the Michigan-based automaker has had three offers to purchase the Viper line.
“We’re doing due diligence,” Press said in a conference call with reporters to discuss the automaker’s January sales.
Ironically, Viper sales were up substantially in January.
Press said that the Viper line won’t likely be sold off in time for the automaker’s March 31 deadline with the federal government. Chrysler must be capable of demonstrating its long-term viability by the end of March in order to retain the $4 billion loan from the U.S. government.
“We don’t anticipate it will be done by then,” Press said.
Sale of the Viper line would likely include the Detroit factory that hand-assembles each Viper. The factory employs 110 workers.
