While the focus has been on General Motors, as they GM lies to the American taxpayer with a thank you while still owing billions, Chrysler has gone mostly unnoticed under the radar. The taxpayer bailed out automaker remains in serious trouble. In the last three months of 2010, Chrysler lost an amazing $199 billion.
Chrysler remains hopeful its new lineups, which are really mostly variations of its tired line up including a sportier looking Dodge Charger, will bring it to the black this year.
Hopeful? Oil is at $100 a barrel and we aren't even at peak driving season, and Chrysler's most successful vehicles are trucks, SUVs, and minivans--not very fuel efficient high mpg vehicles. Remember in 2008 when gasoline hit these levels, these types of vehicles couldn't even be given away off showroom floors. Hopeful I ask?
Like General Motors, who is a long way from healthy, Chrysler is another example of why the federal government should have let the weakest fail, which would have provided more share for companies like Ford to ensure their survival, but rather the government decided to pick winners and losers. While mounting a PR war against Toyota, the federal government failed miserably with your tax dollars.