Fiat opts to buy more Chrysler stock

[Dennis H]

Fiat already owns 58.5 percent. They want to buy another 3.3 percent. Guess who owns 41.5 percent? A trust that pays medical bills for retired United Auto Workers union members. When Rick Wagoner retired from GM, he said he felt like he was running health care instead of a car company. I rest my case. It is amazing that any company can get a product to market.

 

[Budnicks]

I saw that too... BUT; They have been doing pretty damn good lately thou... Way better than the UAW Unions bought & paid for golden parachute & corrupt "good old boys club" that were driving it into bankruptcy... Prior to the Ferrari-Fiat/Italians taking over management or the damn Fed. govt. trying to take them over... I would like see it be a majority American owned too... BUT at least it's not completely gone & they are selling some product now...

 

[Funship32]

Okay, I'm going to get on my soap box here so please bear with me and cut me slack if you don't agree: I swear, as a company Chrysler has been owned by just about every country of the Axis powers of WWII with Japan being the only exception and it is, IMO, shameful. When reading about Chrysler's history, latest read being about the Chrysler Turbine car, it is hard for me to fathom how as a company they went from participating in the "Arsenal of Democracy" of WWII, to building and participating in the Nike missle defense program, to building radar, space boosters, etc, etc, to where they are now. Chrysler offered the first fully transistor radio to the automotive market in 1955. They were among the 1st to offer fuel injection to the market place. They offered ABS back in the early 70's..all of it cutting edge stuff but stuff which they didn't stick with and work the bugs out of. Talk about a company that was mis-manage (for the most part) and just flat out finger ****ed their ability to survive, I think of Chrysler. Yes, to be sure, the UAW had a hand in it as did upper managment with their golden parachutes and the like, but to see a company go from what it was to a mere shadow of itself...omg...if there was EVER a case of where Jack Welch acolytes need to see how NOT to run a company, I think Chrysler is a shining example. Along with GM, Bethlehem Steel, RCA, Packard and many others.

I'm not slamming Fiat for they have after all once AGAIN saved Chryslers bacon! They also have turned themselves around (anyone remember when Fiat meant: Fix it again, Tony) and like you, Budnicks, alluded to they aren't gone but I think it is just disgrace that they sank so far and I can't help but shake my head and wonder where we and they went wrong. Then again, I see the same mis-managment being played out with Boeing so...*shrug*...

Thanks for your time.

 

[Darius]

Looking at Chrysler from a STRICTLY investment perspective....I would buy some stock right NOW if it was available!

 

[Coronet 14]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...8ICoDQ&usg=AFQjCNHnsPTGQwCugnPxw_Ucxa21Dngesg According to website Fiat Could do away with Dodge

 

[Funship32]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...8ICoDQ&usg=AFQjCNHnsPTGQwCugnPxw_Ucxa21Dngesg According to website Fiat Could do away with Dodge

Yeah I read the same thing in Mopar Action. If there is buzz about it, it is usually accurate.

 

[WileE]

Funship, I've been in the business over 40 years... I'll offer a few reasons from my perspective, ALL of which bear some responsibility: corporate management, union leaders, unions, our government, EPA, dealership owners, and of course the bamboozled American public. Greed, corruption, excess benefits, tax-abatements to foreign companies who impose tariffs on our products, regulations, dealer scam-operators, etc... many other reasons, etc.... and the fools who let it all happen.

 

[Funship32]

Funship, I've been in the business over 40 years... I'll offer a few reasons from my perspective, ALL of which bear some responsibility: corporate management, union leaders, unions, our government, EPA, dealership owners, and of course the bamboozled American public. Greed, corruption, excess benefits, tax-abatements to foreign companies who impose tariffs on our products, regulations, dealer scam-operators, etc... many other reasons, etc.... and the fools who let it all happen.

Oh to be sure, all the factors you mentioned had a hand in it. But honestly it is just sad... horribly sad to see. I've been a Chrysler guy since I was a young guy and to know of all the market firsts that Chrysler was known for and just frittered away to where they are now. How did Pogo say it? Oh yeah..."We have met the enemy and he is us"

 

[Budnicks]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...8ICoDQ&usg=AFQjCNHnsPTGQwCugnPxw_Ucxa21Dngesg According to website Fiat Could do away with Dodge

There's some good & some bad in that hypotheses/conjecture/theory, it's all just speculation at this point in time, the SRT brand will be the performance line up of cars, I've always thought that was the plan & remember Ferrari is part of Fiat & all the same type streamlining, realignment in the market, stuff happened there too, I know it's apples & oranges... I hope the Dodge Label/Brand doesn't ever go away... My favorite has always been Plymouth, it's already gone... I hope some of the projects, that they mentioned will be built too, like bringing back the Barracuda under SRT, since Plymouth has been gone for years now, they will do what ever sells & make the most profit, unfortunately whether all us brand loyal Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler/Jeep/SRT/Mopar people like it or not... It's the business climate of today overburdening political pressure & fed. govt. regs or std.'s that have to be met, by X date & skyrocketing Union labor/production costs, the bad economy, investors or ownership tighter control & greed, all drive the car market, no matter the brand/era... It always has & always will...