Chrysler has launched their new logo, and a new website. The website details their plans for another 100 years. I’m not a fan of the logo. It reminds me of the horrible cars that the old Chrysler used to make. Who wants to drive an old LeBaron.
Aug 082007
Aug 062007
Cerberus has [hired Robert Nardelli](http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/05/news/companies/chryslernardelli.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007080523 “Robert Nardelli”) to be their new CEO. This is the guy whose previous job ended in disgrace. His claim to fame was that Home Depot’s stock had dropped 40%, all while he received a giant compensation package.
>Nardelli angered Home Depot shareholders when he refused to take questions during a shareholder meeting in May 2006 as the stock was floundering. His rich pay package drew fire; he earned $38.1 million last year. Ultimately he was forced out of the company in January 2007, but left with a $210 million golden parachute in cash and stock options that included a $20 million severance payment and retirement benefits of $32 million.
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>To be sure, plenty of executives before Nardelli have gotten away with big paychecks and imperious behavior. In the end, it was the stock price that got him. As Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, told Fortune after Nardelli’s departure, “if the stock had doubled, who would have cared? Instead it went nowhere, and that’s what this is all about.”
Usually, when CNN need to use the term that’s right in their article, it’s a little shocking to the rest of the world.
>That’s right. Ceberus has confirmed that the disgraced former CEO of Home Depot (Charts, Fortune 500), who became the poster child for excessive CEO compensation, has taken the reigns at Chrysler. On the day the deal was finalized, August 3, Nardelli was elected to the Chrysler board. Soon after, the directors appointed him chairman and chief executive.
Aug 052007
Daimler and Chrysler are two separate companies again. This past week Daimler official closed it’s sale of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital. Now is when the big questions related to Jeep will begin to appear. Will Cerberus invest in the company or will they scale back to basics. I’m of the belief that they should scale back and focus on the vehicles that do well. Trim the fat, and work on constructing new vehicles that are actually useful, unline the Jeep Compass.
If it weren’t for the Jeep brand, would Chrysler still exist? Probably, but it wouldn’t be in very good shape.
A wave of sales of Toledo’s coveted sport utility vehicle nearly prevented Chrysler car and truck overall sales from sinking last month.
The Jeep Wrangler, built at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex, had a remarkable 93 percent increase in sales last month from the same month last year, at 10,982. Its sales are up for the year 86 percent.
Miller Lite, with the help of auto-customization guru and MTV’s Pimp My Ride host “Mad Mike” Martin, this summer is giving away more than 125 Jeep(R) vehicles, including four that will be custom-designed by consumers via an interactive Miller Lite microsite.
Legal-drinking-age consumers can visit http://millerlite.com/ and in a few easy steps customize a “virtual” Jeep, which Mad Mike will sketch for them while providing witty and lively banter. Consumers can then submit their final custom ride for entry into a sweepstakes to win one of the four custom-designed 2007 Jeep Wrangler Saharas.
“Summer is all about fun, and we think partnering the always-entertaining ‘Mad Mike’ Martin with Jeep will be exciting for Miller Lite drinkers,” said Rob Olejniczak, Miller’s promotions director. “We believe it is the perfect combination: Giving consumers of Miller Lite, the ultimate light beer, the opportunity to win a Jeep, the ultimate summer sport-utility vehicle.”
In addition to registering for the grand-prize giveaway, consumers can email their custom Jeep design to friends. They also can give Mad Mike a friend’s phone number, and he will then leave a voicemail and text message inviting them to participate in the promotion. Once the contest is complete, behind-the-scenes webisodes will keep consumers engaged. Content will include the customization of the four Jeeps, interspersed with exclusive footage and appearances by Mad Mike.
In addition to the four Jeeps given away with Mad Mike’s help, Miller Lite will give away 125 other Jeep Wrangler Saharas this summer through various consumer promotions. For more information, log onto http://www.millerlite.com/ or stop by the Miller Lite display at your nearest grocery store or liquor store.