PIC: Is the END NEAR - Chrysler and GM talking about MERGER!

It was a pretty bad week for the US financially and the auto industr
was far from immune. But despite our best efforts to drown our th
sorry, it just keeps on coming

General Motors and Chrysler have been in talks about a possible merge
for the past month, that "negotiations are not certain to produc
a deal," "would most likely still take weeks to wor
out" and that two unnamed sources say that the chances of th
merger going through are "50-50." Obfuscate much

With GM's stock prices ending the week below $5 a share and Cerberus
the private equity firm that owns Chrysler – grasping at straws
including continued talks with Nissan/Renault, a merger of unequal
is two parts disturbing and one part intriguing

Cerberus' people haven't been returning phone calls and the onl
comment offered to the NYT from the General's spokesperson, Ton
Cervone, was, "Without referencing that specific rumor, as we'v
often said at GM officials routinely discuss issues of mutual interes
with other automakers." Broad, unclear and exactly what we'
expect

The merger of GM and Chrysler would put Cerberus in charge of a
"unspecified equity stake" in the corporation, making th
two-headed General-Chrysler (or Chrysler Motors?) the world's larges
automaker, controlling over 35 percent of the U.S. vehicle market
causing rifts among brand faithful and offering more potentia
(vehicle) cannibalization than the Donner Party. Not to mention bot
automakers' labor contracts, supplier dealers and slipping marke
share. Shocked?

Official statement from Lori McTavish, Executive Director
Communications, Chrysler LLC

Chrysler LLC as a matter of policy does not confirm or disclose th
nature of its private business meetings. As we have said, the Compan
is looking at a number of potential global partnerships as it explore
growth opportunities around the world. Beyond those partnership
already announced however, Chrysler has not formed any new agreement
and has no further announcements to make at this time

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