Chrysler/GM to possibly share GMDAT products?

[Ming]

SOURCE: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 0351/1148/

GM and Chrysler eye partnership
Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News

The Chrysler Group is in talks with crosstown competitor General Motors Corp. to jointly produce vehicles, including a large SUV similar in size to the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The maker of Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep cars and trucks has been in talks with GM for more than six months, said a person familiar with the plans, which have been described as advanced but not final.

"It's an example of a strategic partnership," the person said.

More strategic partnerships and joint projects were key ingredients in the restructuring plan that Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda detailed on Wednesday in response to the automaker's $1.5 loss in 2006.

The Auburn Hills automaker is cutting production and 13,000 jobs.

If a deal is struck between Chrysler and GM, it would be the first joint effort between domestic automakers to build vehicles. There have been alliances with foreign makers. Ford Motor Co. once built Nissan Quest minivans for the Japanese automaker and Chrysler plans to build Volkswagen AG minivans at its plants.

GM and Chrysler also are exploring sharing small cars developed by GM's South Korea-based unit, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

A GM spokesman wouldn't confirm Thursday any plans with Chrysler.

"We frequently discuss issues of mutual interest with other companies," GM spokesman Tom Wikinson said. "In many cases these discussions don't lead anywhere."

Though such collaborations help cut development and manufacturing costs, Chrysler's latest endeavor to add a large SUV to its truck-heavy lineup puzzled some analysts.

"I think it's crazy," said Erich Merkle, an analyst with Grand Rapids-based IRN Inc. "The reason why I say that is I don't have a problem with them maybe collaborating on a vehicle or maybe trying to combine some of their product developing resources to work on a common vehicle or common technology, but why a Suburban-type vehicle?

MORE HERE

[daewoomofo]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Audacity Racing]

I'm all for this merger/buyout/whatever it ends up being. I'd love to see more woo's sold under the Chrysler name. Can you say DSM?

[lanowoo]

Shits going to hit the fan on this one....I HATE CHRYSLERS!! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!

[daewoomofo]

Shits going to hit the fan on this one....I HATE CHRYSLERS!! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!

+10000