For Chrysler the table of before bankruptcy is disastrous 16

"avanti!": after "sold" its project to purchase Opel to the Government of German in Berlin, Sergio Marchionne, the workaholic CEO of Fiat, began a tour us. The goal: visit Chrysler plants, which he prepares to take the controls and closer to the authorities American, too happy to have found a savior for the sick of the "big three". The crossing at boss confirmed he would in the future much of his time at the bedside of Chrysler, the rest of his agenda being devoted to Fiat, or even to Opel if he case with General Motors.

Use of the time which is reminiscent of Carlos Ghosn, who is a regular shuttle between Paris and Tokyo, to lead Renault and Nissan. But is not Carlos Ghosn who wants. In these times of crisis, the conquest of the Italian boss Ortega leave rather skeptical colleagues. "On mergers, there may very well be a hero one day and then suffer then all his life", scoffs one of its European counterparts. Transatlantic dreams generally finish in pain, as evidenced by the failed marriages Renault-American Motor Corp. (AMC), Fiat and General Motors, and more recently Daimler-Chrysler.

"Chrysler management will ask substantial energy to Fiat, at the time where the Group should remain focused on the Italy market where it cash losses," adds an automotive consultant, very reserved about the capabilities of the Turin to rectify the matter. Of course, Sergio Marchionne becomes Chrysler industrial operator no cost, and it lives with the advance of the US Treasury. But the risks of dispersion are important at a time where many flashers are red in his own group: in the first quarter, the Fiat House cashed a net loss of 411 million euros, and the only automotive industry saw shipments drop by 17.6, with a decline in more important Italy ( 25), a capital market to the side of the Brazil. For Chrysler, the table of before bankruptcy is disastrous: 16.8 billion of losses in 2008, 39.3 billion assets!

Out of the coma

If Sergio Marchionne succeeds in its purpose, he shall reign over an empire of nine brands, unless you shorten the suffering of some of them: Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Opel, Vauxhall and Saab. "It's lot of mouths to feed in terms of capital to develop models." "And many feet to look at to avoid that they walk on it," said Detroit a columnist of "Automotive News".

To dream the financial analysts on the benefits of the critical size and the magic threshold of 5 million vehicles a year that would reach the new group, it already that Chrysler kind of his coma. This is by no means be won. During the time in bankruptcy (30 to 60 days, hope Washington), 30 factories in North America have reduced their activity, with vehicles half mounted on strings. Can the machine start Not sure, especially if certain suppliers deliver more. In addition, Fiat must send squads of engineers in Detroit, because American white collar workers left the group by the thousands for two years.

More serious for the suite: plan products of Chrysler is completely dry. The very few who survived the massacre, and vehicles which must be renewed in 2010 or 2011 Dodge Ram or the Jeep Grand Cherokee pick-up, will be amply offset. As the first from models of technical cooperation with Fiat, they may arrive in the concessions before at least two years.

Will the Italian group save time by distributing its own models in the United States with the help of his partner No chance, "trade network of the Chrysler Group is very focused on the Midwest and Central US, not the kind of place adapted to sell Italian cars," said a former Daimler Executive...