When Chrysler’s CEO Sergio Marchionne took the stage over the weekend to honor Lee Iacocca with an induction into the Walter P. Chrysler Legacy circle, he admitted to feeling unworthy of honoring Chrysler’s most famous executive in recent memory, and called Ford’s Alan Mulally and the UAW’s Bob King to help share the honor. And being the business-obsessed type he is, Marchionne wasn’t about to let Mulally get on stage without at least a mention of Ford’s just-announced $2.6b profit. And though the recognition and ensuing awkward “moment” helped add to the usual Detroit gala hometown booster vibe, it also highlighted the fact that Chrysler still has yet to announce its Q2 results.
Marchionne has said that Chrysler will report a Q2 operating profit (explained at least in part by the premise that “they are likely making money from fleet sales now, while it was impossible to do before bankruptcy”), although there’s been no indication that a net profit could be in the cards. And based on the body language differences between the two CEOs, it’s clear which is more comfortable with his lot. More evidence of this can be seen in the following video of te gala’s highlights…
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5 years from now, Detroit will be honouring Alan Mulally for the good work he’s doing at Ford (Z71_silvy, you can’t deny that Ford is in a better place than it was 2 years’ ago).
I hope they’ll have a function for Sergio for the same reason, too.
But Cammy! You forgot about the amazing juggernaught that is General Motors, that is going to knock Ford clear into bankruptcy! /sarcasm
Cammy, you underestimate his power of denial.
Z71_silvy is TTAC’s own Iraq Minister of Information
here’s a bold predication… in 2014, GM and Chrysler will be in the same position they are today… there’s a distinct lack of traction in both these moribund brands
Why the hate for Z71-silvy. Anything positive about Ford, and Silvy is all over it.Somehow that makes him a bad guy?
Try posting something good about GM.or the UAW. Just count the GM/UAW hate you might read,from the usual sources.
Mikey,
No hate for Z71_Silvy from my end. I like the guy.
The UAW Parasites legally control GM, Ford, and Chrysler so it really doesn’t matter….Competition? Yeah Riiiight!
Yeah…. Why don’t we save some of our hate for this right wing nut bar.
Just asking
I find it interesting that Whiteacre wasn’t invited on stage. Does anyone have any read on what the Detroit royalty think of him? They’ve obviously adopted Mulally, to the point that he’s going to be up for sainthood when he retires but I certainly don’t get that feeling about any of the GM alumni.
Here we can see why Marchionne is wearing sweaters – didn’t know Detroit car execs were such an affectionate bunch!