Third World’s The Charm (For Chrysler)
It’s official: Chrysler’s in talks with everyody and nobody. As if finally realizing that the North American market is lost to it, Chrysler has been going after the much-touted growth markets of India and Russia. Not that there’s much to talk about yet. “When we look at alliances in different regions, we have had discussions with multiple companies in Russia,” says Chrysler’s Tom LaSorda. “In India we have had discussions with many companies.” Mr Lasorda also confirmed that the sky is indeed blue. When the talk turns to Fiat, LaSorda gets all bashful, like an eligible bachelor accused of lowering his standards. “Have they approached us? Yes,” LaSorda tells Reuters . “At this stage there is no formal discussion going on, but there was an inquiry.” And he’s quick to point out that Fiat will get with anyone, asserting that “we are not the only ones.” In India, Chrysler wants to sell Wranglers through Tata Motors, and it’s expecting to announce a new Russian hookup by the end of the year. Between Nissan, Fiat and Tata, the Chrysler plan is beginning to look like rebadging foreign cars while building trucks for others to sell around the world. Then leasing cheap American manufacturing as the dollar continues to slide. Or being sold for scrap when they run out of time to sort it all out. We shall see.