“Fiat-engineered, Mexican-assembled, Chrysler-badged small cars”. Wow, the old confidence meter just shot through the roof now didn’t it?

Badges! We dont need no stinking Fiat-engineered, Mexican-assembled, Chrysler-badges!

Nardelli? The guy is a joke.

Is that a pic of John Grudens angry uncle?

===>>LOL johnnycanuck good one

Why is it no surprise that a guy with the name Nardelli is eager to do business with italians?

How will this impact the development of the Hornet?

Exactly what problem does this merger solve?

Zcarsales, Fiat will own 35% it’s not ‘merger’.

Why do I fill like eating pizza?

This is great for FIAT, who has been in talks with a variety of manufacturers over the last year or so about getting into the US market. Although the timing could be better for them, I think they have more to gain than chrysler at this point….

that pic sure doesn’t seem “positive”!

I too wonder if the small-car platform access is really the cure for Chrysler’s ills. But, I’m not too surprised–Chrysler does have a history of making deals that benefit the other guy more than it does them.

And, I think this 35% stock transfer really is just the precursor to an all-out purchase of Chrysler, because a foothold in the U.S. market is EXACTLY what Fiat needs. Alfa Romeo wants to tap into U.S. market, but they’ll need more than a few extra square feet at Ferrari and Maserati dealerships to do it. And once the economy rebounds and OPEC does its typical tinkering, oil prices will spike and everyone will want the little cars that the Continent knows oh so well. Fiat may well find a solid market here to, especially if the set up manufacturing here.

So, Fiat is definitely thinking ahead, and Cerberus probably is too. I’ve never thought Cerberus was in it for the long haul, and when they decide to cut and run, now it’ll be easier. When you’ve already cleaved off a third of your hide, it won’t take much effort to let vultures take the rest.

miket, i have to disagree with you. i think that the timing for fiat’s takeover of stock (remember theyre not paying anything for it) couldnt be at a better time. firstly, theyre not paying anything for this, they just have to hand over some of theyre cars. secondly, chrysler needs this to stay afloat in this economy, because people wont only want to save money on gas when the recession ends and fuel skyrockets again, but theyll want to save gas during the recession in order to try and save money. it is a good move for both parties (as long as u.s. congress allows it)

just a little aside, gas in canada is still $3.20 a gallon, which is better than the +$6.00 a gallon we saw in the summer, but its still high, so we wouldnt mind seeing some of these more fuel efficient cars up here where its -50 degrees outside

Scarface03 – You totally nailed it man.. I couldn’t agree more. Chrysler’s basically toast and will be cut up and all the ‘good’ stuff sold off In the near term (say a year or so). A couple of years down the road all that’ll be left of the remaining assets (production facilities) will be used by Fiat and so Alfa to build their own vehicles for the NA market.

Forgot to ad. Nardelli is a complete jackball.

Nobody can predict the future, obviously; not even car makers, and they (sort of) do it for a living. They didn’t see the SHORT spurt of $4+ a gallon gas, and then the dump down to $2 a gallon gas, turning around everyone’s attitudes and buying habits in six short months. There’s no way anyone can know what’ll happen in two years from now. Chrysler, theoretically could, in two years, end up being the most profitable car company of the “big 3″. Theoretically..

Chrysler is a disease infested ho’. So many partners during the past decades.

Chrysler has not even seen a doctor to cure the disease of poor quality infesting the company.

In this photo Mr. Nardelli looks like he just took one for the team.

Every time I think of this guy I think McDonald’s manager.