More Upbeat News for the D. Chrysler Profits at 13 Year High

**Lowell** · April-26-12, 08:33 AM

Over my decades in Detroit I have witnessed the wild swings of the auto industry's sales. Today the new for the most volatile of the automakers is very promising. News like this always trickles across our region's economy and bode well for better times.

DETROIT [[AP) -- Chrysler followed its strong first-quarter sales with a big profit, sending its 2009 brush with financial death farther into the rearview mirror.

The Auburn Hills, Mich., company made a net profit of $473 million, its best quarter in 13 years, mainly on the back of strong U.S. sales. From January through March, Chrysler's sales were up 39 percent as customers bought more Ram pickups, Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs and Chrysler 200 midsize sedans.

Not bad for a company that almost died three years ago. A government auto task force deadlocked on whether to save the company in 2009, with the tie broken by President Barack Obama.

Chrysler's first-quarter profit was more than four times the $116 million that the company made in the first quarter of last year. It was Chrysler's best performance since the third quarter of 1998 when it made $682 million during the pickup truck and SUV boom.

Full article here

**AGinthe313** · April-26-12, 09:05 AM

Good for Chrysler - I work at Ford, but I still enjoy seeing positive news coming out of GM and Chrysler.

**DetroitPlanner** · April-26-12, 09:21 AM

Ahh... the ultimate victory. After Mercedes Benz and Cerberus stripped this company to near death, its back. Tony fixed it.... again!

**ismoakrack** · April-26-12, 12:11 PM

Surprising to read about strong truck and SUV sales considering gas prices and the seemingly strengthening green vibe.

**ndavies** · April-26-12, 12:53 PM

Too bad all that profit will be going to Italy to help save Fiat.

**Warrenite84** · April-26-12, 07:22 PM

Not necessarily. Although the Fiat workers had implemented WCM, [[World Class Manufacturing), their work rules have made their input more costly for Fiat/Chrysler. Sergio is very motivated to leave them high and dry if they don't implement the same work rules forced on American Workers. He has hinted moving his base of operations to the U.S.A. in retaliation if they don't. Mr. Marchionne has stated that he would not prop up Fiat with Chrysler money.