More Signs of a Chrysler Meltdown?

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

As TTAC previously reported, Getrag has pulled the plug on its $530m Chrysler transmission factory "indefinitely," for reasons that remain well outside public purview. Those of us in these parts who see the [non] development as a death rattle in Chrysler's corporate chest have yet more reason to wonder about the implications of the hard stop to a key part of Chrysler's powertrain program. Automotive News [sub] says Chrysler's new owners have gone radio silent on the automaker's suppliers. "Only 22 percent of the 90 suppliers surveyed said Chrysler executives had communicated with them since Cerberus took over in May, reports supplierbusiness.com, a research firm in Stamford, England. Of the vendors surveyed, most were direct suppliers to Chrysler. Forty percent had annual sales exceeding $500 million." The blackout could be the result of personnel changes; former Home Depot purchasing chief John Campi was named Chrysler's new supplier supremo on January 3. Or…?

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • IronEagle IronEagle on Jan 14, 2008

    Well you can't get a Toyota Camry that will top 170mph like a Charger SRT-8 will for one.

  • D.Smithee D.Smithee on Jan 14, 2008

    Who wants to top 170 mph? As for Getrag pulling the plug on the factory...that's bad, bad news. If I recall, they were readying a supposedly competitive DSG-like tranny. It's too bad.

  • IronEagle IronEagle on Jan 14, 2008

    ::raises hand::

  • Brettc Brettc on Jan 15, 2008

    I went to Home Depot on Sunday, and saw what I never thought I would see in a Home Depot. Call boxes! It was like they went to a Lowe's or Target and suddenly realized that customers are important to make money or something. I don't know why Chrysler would keep hiring HD execs though, we all know how well HD ran when Nardelli and all his buddies were in charge. Nardelli must miss his rich friends, so he figures he might as well hire them and get them setup with another golden parachute.

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