| The sale of the Chrysler Group has aroused various | | | | The concerns of local Chrysler dealers |
| reactions. There are some who thinks that it was the | | | | On the part of the local car dealers their main concern |
| best solution like for instance Veteran Des | | | | is for Cerberus to have a better understanding of |
| Moines-area Dodge dealer Stew Hansen who thinks | | | | what their customers want. Jensen believes Daimler, |
| that the sale of the Auburn Hills-based company was | | | | renowned for its Mercedes-Benz brand bought |
| an absolute necessity. | | | | Chrysler AG nine years ago hoping to enter the |
| If there is that analysts and Chrysler dealers agreed | | | | mainstream American car market but unfortunately it |
| on it's the fact that the automaker must change quickly | | | | wasn't prepared for the fierce competition that it has |
| under its new owner, Cerberus Capital Management, | | | | to face. Jensen said, "I think they're tired of it." |
| to win back customers. | | | | Hansen who is the general manager and former |
| The new owner of Chrysler Group is Cerberus which | | | | owner of Stew Hansen's Dodge City, a Dodge and |
| is a private equity company in New York City. | | | | Jeep dealer said that in Germany, manufacturers |
| Cerberus has expressed its desire to revive the | | | | "expect to put a car out there and the German people |
| Chrysler Group the maker of Dodge including the | | | | just buy it because it's a Mercedes or a Volkswagen |
| Dodge Charger parts and Jeep vehicles. It has bought | | | | or whatever." On the other hand here in United States, |
| the automaker from Daimler for $7.4 billion. According | | | | sales competition among automakers is aggressive, |
| to Doyle Jensen, Finance Manager for Adel Chrysler | | | | fueled by promotions, rebates, and low-cost-financing. |
| Dodge Jeep, "I think we need fresh blood in Chrysler." | | | | Hansen was very open about his dislike of Daimler's |
| At present Chrysler is trying to shift its product line to | | | | German leadership. He thinks it's too rigid and |
| smaller more fuel-efficient models that carry smaller | | | | overbearing with its relations with Chrysler product |
| profit margins. Krebs said that Chrysler must lessen its | | | | dealers. He said, "It was their way or the highway is |
| dependence on sales of big vehicles such as pickup | | | | just the way it was." |
| trucks and its larger sport utility vehicles. Krebs also | | | | Tim Westrum, the owner of Granger Motors stores in |
| added that Chrysler must learn to develop | | | | Granger and Perry has also given his views on the |
| subcompacts that can compete with the likes of | | | | transfer of Chrysler's ownership. He said that |
| Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa. Krebs also thinks that | | | | ownership by the private equity group will help |
| Chrysler should negotiate with the United Auto | | | | promote long-term strategies that will strengthen the |
| Workers Union for a favorable contract especially one | | | | company. |
| that would help reduce the company's health care | | | | But unlike Hansen, Westrum has a different opinion |
| costs. | | | | when it comes to Daimler; he said that the German |
| Chrysler has been able to roll out 10 new models last | | | | automaker has helped Chrysler in ways such as |
| 2006 and will be releasing four more for this year plus | | | | improved quality. He observed that Daimler will still own |
| an additional of four new models later in the year. | | | | nearly 20 percent of Chrysler, "It's not like they're |
| Currently Chrysler has six vehicles that include small | | | | washing their hands of the company. There are some |
| sporty utility vehicles that get more than 30 miles per | | | | good things that Daimler brings to the table such as |
| gallon. | | | | engineering, product development and quality. |