As Ken Elias points out in his latest General Motors Death Watch, GM is asking the feds for money to fund their merger (now buyout?) plans for Chrysler. The Wall Street Journal [sub] tells the tale, highlight analyst Ron Lache’s “come to Jesus” moment re: the automakers’ cash conflagration. “”Without external intervention, from consolidation or government assistance, we expect GM to reach its minimum cash position in under 12 months,” Deutsche Bank auto analyst Rod Lache wrote last week. In an interview, Mr. Lache added that Chrysler is also running dangerously low on funds. “We believe Chrysler is in the same position. It’s either August 2009 or December 2009 they run out. Both have a limited runway.” OK, so, now, bring on the anonymous source! “GM and Chrysler ‘are basically waiting on the government,’ said one person involved in the merger talks. ‘The three choices are bankruptcy, a big intervention from the government or some big deal like this that has massive cost-cutting possibilities,’ this person said. ‘That’s it. And even the big deal may require government help.'” Or… the feds could do nothing. You know, theoretically. But wait! It gets worse!
“People familiar with the GM-Chrysler talks said over the weekend that the sides are also considering forming a new company that could include a third auto maker.” C’mon! You’re kidding, right? Any guesses who this third sucker party might be? If it’s Ford, well, that would be spectacular! Anyway, if you loved watching Senator Chris Dodd giving bankers shit for the fact he failed to regulate them (and accepted a bribe), then you’ll love this…
“Last week, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm began assembling a task force of cabinet officials who will build a contingency plan in the event of a merger, or if one of the Big Three seeks bankruptcy-court protection. A spokeswoman for Gov. Granholm said Sunday that the task force is talking to industry analysts and Michigan economic planners to develop a plan to deal with what could be massive job loss.”
Any government assistance given to Red Ink Rick and Company can be correlated to giving an alcoholic a bottle of wine. This guy just doesn’t get it, or in the alternative, he does, and is purposely driving GM into bankruptcy.
The solution to GM’s problems do not lie in further reductions in employment or benefits, selling assets, or garnering dollars from the federal government. Simply enough, if GM would change the marketing of our products, growth, profit, and increased shareholder value would be attainable.
Meanwhile as dealerships close, people lose jobs, and communities suffer, GM continues to display the worst possible presentation of our products and makes the efforts of our best engineers, designers, and production people worthless. It’s high time for the losses to stop.
“Last week, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm began assembling a task force of cabinet officials who will build a contingency plan in the event of a merger, or if one of the Big Three seeks bankruptcy-court protection. ”
Well, I for one will sleep better tonight knowing that our Governess has assembled a task force…
In the meantime, the people of Michigan will continue to elect politicians who will in turn continue to drive the state into the ground.
I don’t even know how to respond to: “People familiar with the GM-Chrysler talks said over the weekend that the sides are also considering forming a new company that could include a third auto maker.”
umm…Does Tesla count as an Automaker?
“People familiar with the GM-Chrysler talks said over the weekend that the sides are also considering forming a new company that could include a third auto maker.”
WHO?
Maybe they still count AMC.
The logistical nightmare involved in merging 3 auto companies would provide an almost unprecedented opportunity to devour public funds (note I said ‘almost’).
“People familiar with the GM-Chrysler talks said over the weekend that the sides are also considering forming a new company that could include a third auto maker.”
WHO?
How about Renult-Nissan? They could be a minority owner……..
Senator Chris Todd?
@brapoza:
Typo, fixed.
This is better than soap, but it’s downright scary to not know where the farce ends and reality begins. I mean, not even Hollywood can make up shit like this. The Time of Troubles, indeed. In twenty thirty years, people will look back to these times and won’t believe their eyes of all the turmoil, unrest, rumours, bullshit, spin, vapour, stupidity and plain right lunacy there is right now. They will say that people went a little crazy in their heads, they went loco, bigtime… The Time of Troubles, The Great Unrest.
Just perfect. GM asks for $10Bln to help gut Chrysler and then inevitably Chrysler will ask for further Billions because everyone is out of a job.