The 29 Sep issue of "Business Week" on p54 has a grim article on the
financial picture @ Chrysler. It's titled "Stalled---Is the Daimler-Chrysler deal a
mistake?"
With several very bad financial years since the merger and now the 2d qtr of
the current fiscal year turning in a $1 billion loss, the piece outlines
several alternatives as the Germans are getting increasingly edgy over the red ink
of their Detroit acquisition.
If Daimler-Chrysler does continue indefinitely (as opposed to Chrysler being
sold off, or just shut down for good, which are 2 of the alternatives noted in
the article), it would seem to me that every effort must be taken to develop
vehicles that will have the most mass market appeal for their price niche.
This applies to sedans, trucks, SUV's, everything. Many members of this List
are counting on the next generation Dakota to have factory options that would
make it some kind of street rod. The chances of that happening would appear to
me to be slim given the crisis conditions that have gone on now for several
years and don't look very bright for the ensuing months. And it's those months
in which final decisions will be made regarding exactly how the Gen IV Dakota
will be built out and optioned.
Paul Sahlin
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