Chrysler Strokes Tata for Growth Potential

Chrysler in tie-up talks with Tata, Fiat

July 30, 2008 - 3:31 pm ET

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Chrysler LLC is in talks with a range of overseas partners, including India's Tata Motors Ltd. and Italy's Fiat, as it seeks to raise cash and open doors to faster-growing markets outside the United States, according to people briefed on the talks.

Chrysler, the No. 3 U.S. automaker, controlled by private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, has been in discussions with Tata about arrangements to sell its Jeep Wrangler SUV in India and possibly other Asian markets.

In addition, Chrysler has been talking to Fiat about leasing production capacity from Chrysler in North America and cooperating in retail distribution in the U.S. market, the people familiar with the talks said.

Representatives from Chrysler and Tata had no immediate comment. Cerberus and Fiat representatives could not be immediately reached.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN3015520080730

so could this mean fiat 500's sold in the us?

Absolutely, but with one caveat, the car will be built in America on an existing Dodge line, and they can't use the 500 name so Dodge will have to come up with one.

I think FiaTata Nitro will fit well.

John Brown wrote: and they can't use the 500 name

Why not? Ford never marketed a 500, just a "Five Hundred." Besides, its a Taurus now, anyway.

Because my joke wouldn't work if they could use it ;)

Is nobody going to applaud that post title?

Strizzo wrote: so could this mean fiat 500's sold in the us?

I saw a new Fiat 500 parked on the street in Birmingham, MI last week...

Josh wrote: Is nobody going to applaud that post title?

stroking tatas... boobs

I know that storking Tatas always makes my potential grow...

I have a funny fealing that if we get anything good out of this, Chrysler will find a way to berkeley it up.

OTOH, back in Dec. I read an interesting article about how Cerberus is running things. A good part of it was how Deimler heads where keeping Chrysler from making certain advancments. The German heads ignored QC concerns and prohibited advancments like LED tail lights. I wish I could find this article again, but I don't rember what magazine it was is.

Yep, stroking tatas is good for my growth potential. Particulary if my potential growth is being stroked as well.

Josh wrote: Is nobody going to applaud that post title?

reminds of the strip clubs ;)

As an aside Cerburus owns 51% of GMAC, it would be quite a deal for Cerberus to get the GMAC financial brand into India and Europe as well as into China.

Could be the saving grace for Chrysler and GM.