OHHHHHHH CRAP

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

goodbye new dodge challenger

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070313/ap_on_bi_ge/chrysler

[Arthu®]

I don't see what so ohhhh crap about it... I actually like the Blackstone group and think Schwarzman is one of the best private equity investers there is at the moment. It doesn't say anything about the new Challenger, if the new Challenger is so hot (from a business perspective) and their market research should show that, than it will still be produced. If it isn't a strong product to begin with, then yes the Challenger will be kicked, at least I would do that. What Chrysler needs at the moment is another K-car... At least the source of our parts will still excist and there will still be a Chrysler company, maybe they will turn up better than ever. Leave it up to the pro's kid...

Arthur

[bull]

Yea, I'm not really seeing the problem. You would prefer that the Chinese get it, or that the Germans keep it? IMO The best chance Chrysler has of reclaiming its identity is if it's kept in the United States and operated by Americans. They may not meet all our expectations on everything but I'd much rather take my chances on guys that eat hamburgers over the guys eating rice or sauerkraut. No offense to anyone from other countries who frequent this site but the company was born here and I think it should stay here or die.

Cerberus Capital Management LP is one of the largest private equity investment firms in the USA.

The Blackstone Group L.P. is a prominent private equity and investment management firm founded in 1985 by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman. The company is based in New York City, NY in the good 'ol US of A.

[ChargerSG]

 

[Shakey]

goodbye new dodge challenger

Please explain how you got this:

goodbye new dodge challenger

from the article.

Is this news of Daimler interested in selling Chrysler new to you?

[41husk]

this may infact be good news.  If a fresh co. buys the Chrysler arm they may seed the need to offer the challenger in a wider range of options and prices, placing it in competition with the Mustang.   I feel if the Challenger is priced from mid 20s to mid 40s will make the company some money.
I also feel Daimler has spent the money to research and tool up there plants to build this car.  How would it not help the future owner to put it out?

[Ghoste]

With all the complaining I've done about how the Germans just don't understand the American mindset, I'd welcome this even if it did kill the Challenger.  At least maybe they'd get off the idea that we need the same grille in every vehicle because we're too dumb to recognize different brands.  Or my other favorite, there are only touring sedans and two seat roadsters and because we are uncultured they must both be watered down versions of the superior European ones.

[BB1]

goodbye new dodge challenger

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070313/ap_on_bi_ge/chrysler

How did you get that out of the article.

[GTX]

My understanding of the Blackstone Group was that they are corporate raiders who chop up companies and sell the assets but this is just hear say.
Does anyone know any thing more about them?

[Ghoste]

THAT would put a whole different spin on it. 

[Zentelis]

How did you get that out of the article.

I remember when I was young and blew things out of proportion, too   

[bull]

My understanding of the Blackstone Group was that they are corporate raiders who chop up companies and sell the assets but this is just hear say.

Sounds a bit harsh from what I've read. They do make some changes but I don't know that "raiders who chop up companies" really fits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackstone_Group

[Arthu®]

To give you an idea what private equity really is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_equity

Private equity has become hot the last couple of years and a lot of myths like the "raiders who chop up companies" are doing their rounds. Really a private equity firm buying Chrysler is probably one of the best things that could happen to them. In my opinion the automobile industry leaves a lot to be desired, it has become enormous and because of it's size also very slow and everything but flexible, with a lot of "old" methods of working that the old hierachy doesn't want to be replaced. But the time has come that they can't continue like this any longer, just look at all the problems the major US and European car makers are in.

A buyout by a private equity firm like the Carlyle group or Blackstone group will put an end to this, they will revise the organisational structure from the bottom to the top, probably leaving most of the skilled management in place, as they already know the company best. It is a huge process and the company will go through a trancition of change, things will be dealt with differently from that point on and yes some parts of the company may get cut loose. But the core process will remain, which by the way is most of the time doing pretty good in companies. It is just that a lot have grown too big and too massive to function well with the organisational structure they have.

Don't worry they won't make Chrysler a company that sells mopeds...

In the end though if everything works out, the company will be more efficient and powerfull in fulfilling it's task...

Arthur

BTW I would love to work as a change agent for one of the larger private equity firms.

[69bronzeT5]

I think the new Challenger is still gonna be made. But it says there selling Chrysler Groupd..what about Dodge and Jeep?

[Arthu®]

They are part of the Chrysler group...

[69bronzeT5]

They are part of the Chrysler group...

Ok, I still dont get those big companies.

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

dont read much do you all?? GM WANTS TO BUY I DONT CARE ABOUT THE OTHERS JUST GM

Canadian auto parts maker Magna International and General Motors Corp. also reportedly have looked into buying all or part of Chrysler Group

[Bullit_68]

I agree with Bull on this.I think that Chrysler needs to come back to the U.S. where it belongs.

[Arthu®]

dont read much do you all?? GM WANTS TO BUY I DONT CARE ABOUT THE OTHERS JUST GM

Canadian auto parts maker Magna International and General Motors Corp. also reportedly have looked into buying all or part of Chrysler Group

Don't read much yourself do you ...

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070217/AUTO01/702170378/1148
http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/16/news/companies/chrysler_gm/index.htm
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2007/02/gm_buying_chrys.html
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6202191/car-news/gm-to-buy-chrysler-not-likely/index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17186900/

It is very unlikely that it will happen, it would actually be one of the worst business decisions GM could make at this point in time... If anyone buys them out my bet is one of the private equity firms...

Arthur

[bull]

They are part of the Chrysler group...

Ok, I still dont get those big companies.

Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge are seperate divisions of DCX but they are not seperate companies unless seperated. For example the Coca-Cola Company includes Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tab, Minute Maid, Powerade, Fruitopia, Desani and Enviga which are all seperate beverages that come in different containers but they are all owned by the Coca-Cola Company. If the Coca-Cola Company wanted to sell the division known as Powerade to the company that makes Gatorade (which is PepsiCo) they can do that and I'm sure PepsiCo would love that but until that happens they are part of the Coca-Cola Company. By the way, PepsiCo owns Quaker Oats, Frito-Lay and Tropicana and until 1997 they also owned KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

So Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep all fall under the umbrella of Chrysler Corp. but they can be seperated. However it is up to Daimler (and probably some govt. agencies and lawyers) as to how they sell it off. There's been no talk of them wanting to sell off the company as individual divisions nor has anyone expressed any interest in buying just Jeep, Dodge or Chrysler individually. Does that help?

[69bronzeT5]

They are part of the Chrysler group...

Ok, I still dont get those big companies.

Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge are seperate divisions of DCX but they are not seperate companies unless seperated. For example the Coca-Cola Company includes Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tab, Minute Maid, Powerade, Fruitopia, Desani and Enviga which are all seperate beverages that come in different containers but they are all owned by the Coca-Cola Company. If the Coca-Cola Company wanted to sell the division known as Powerade to the company that makes Gatorade (which is PepsiCo) they can do that and I'm sure PepsiCo would love that but until that happens they are part of the Coca-Cola Company. By the way, PepsiCo owns Quaker Oats, Frito-Lay and Tropicana and until 1997 they also owned KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

So Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep all fall under the umbrella of Chrysler Corp. but they can be seperated. However it is up to Daimler (and probably some govt. agencies and lawyers) as to how they sell it off. There's been no talk of them wanting to sell off the company as individual divisions nor has anyone expressed any interest in buying just Jeep, Dodge or Chrysler individually. Does that help?

[41husk]

I guess only time will tell, but it definetly looks like Daimler is dumping there U.S interest.

[Ghoste]

Not that it matters really, but I don't recall reading anywhere yet whether they were also looking at dumping Freightliner, Sterling, and Detroit Diesel as well?

[bull]

Not that it matters really, but I don't recall reading anywhere yet whether they were also looking at dumping Freightliner, Sterling, and Detroit Diesel as well?

Yes. We have a big Freightliner operation here in Portland and it's all but gone.