The plan was unveiled by the VP for manufacturing of Chrysler, Scott Gaberding, who also revealed that they are considering several options on the drawing board. This also includes an option to build a brand new factory if necessary.

Chrysler is looking at the possibilities of using their plant in Windsor, Ontario, as well as their assembly lines in Mexico and the United States. The factory in Ontario serves for the production of Chrysler’s Town & Country, and the Dodge Caravan. If the plant will be re-organized and re-tooled for the production of the Fiat-based cars, it can help with the production of the MiTo under the Alfa Romeo brand. It can aid in the assembly of Chrysler vehicles using the C-Evo platform of Fiat.

The factory in Mexico being considered is doing the production of the Chrysler PT Cruiser and the Dodge Journey. As earlier announced, the PT Cruiser will be killed by Summer which can give way to the production of A platform Fiat vehicles using the facility. So the Mexico plant might roll out the likes of Fiat 500 or a new Jeep model derived from the Panda Cross.

The other plant in consideration is their assembly line in Belvidere, Illinois. Units like the Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, and the Dodge Caliber zoom out of this factory. Upon retooling, this one can help with the production of the Giulietta from Alfa Romeo and other Fiat models.

The CEO is expected to let the stakeholders and the public know about the 5-year plan of Chrysler by early November. The plan is expected to include selling shares to the public by 2011 and make the quarterly financial report of the company public by next year.

The move seems to get the nod from business analysts and the auto industry community. Some experts foresee Chrysler to report about $841 million in operating profit by next year but declare a net loss of about $169 million as 2010 ends. When 2011 comes, these figures will jump up to $2.45 billion in operating profit and a $952 million net income. Analysts say that these figures might be too good for Chrysler before but is very doable today.

Prior to Marchionne’s take over of the top post, Chrysler was listed as a private company under the Cerberus Capital Management Chrysler. Being a private company, it was not required to publish or release the details about its finances. Some reports are putting the losses at the $6.8 billion mark tracing it as recent as 2007. The company was able to get to a clean sheet after General Motors declared bankruptcy to resolve its problems.

The game plan for Chrysler is to move up in the scale to face luxury car makers head on. The Dodge on the other hand will focus on producing a sportier line of vehicles. The goal is not just to be at par with the Lincoln and the Cadillac but to outpace them with class.

CEO of Chrysler Peter Fong puts it as making their brand a notch better than the competitors. It will be a difficult race as Cadillac tries to improve their line of products from their own garage. Cadillac is ahead of the race as of now with models like the CTS range, SRX, and the flagship XTS.

Chrysler has not revealed how they plan to beat the other brands. The product range that will help achieve their goal is set to be known by November.

Experts are foreseeing future vehicles following the architecture of the electric vehicle Chrysler 200C displayed during the Detroit motor show. The EV might have not gone to production but it has the qualities needed by Chrysler to impress the discerning consumers of the luxury market. The public may also see Chrysler rebranded Fiats and Alfa Romeos.

The Dodge line up will be focusing on giving the consumers performance cars while keeping in mind the CO2 emission and fuel mileage standards set by the new laws taking into effect. The range of Jeep will most likely remain the same but will dwell more on recent smaller vehicles like the Patriot and the Compass.

The judge who ruled on the case cited no alternative to the bankruptcy but a fast liquidation of the assets to save the value of Chrysler. The move was opposed by certain consumer groups, an Indiana based pension funds firm, and about 789 Chrysler dealerships. These groups see the move as done in haste and that Chrysler is getting rid of dealerships unnecessarily.

In the wake of the take over, Chrysler was forced to abandon thousands of units in the assembly with engines and components also unfinished. Several plants were also closed down. The halt of the production leads auto experts to assume that there will be delays in the launch of important projects like the new Grand Cherokee of Jeep and the next gen Chrysler 300.

On the other side of the story, Italian car maker Fiat is set to market the 500 minicar in the United States dealerships of Chrysler. The launch is estimated to be 18 months from now.

Fiat executives clarified that the 500 minicar will be the only unit carrying the badge of Fiat. It is hoping to copy the success of BMW in relaunching the Mini several years back.

There are also plans for Chrysler to build units derived from the platform of Fiat. It was made clear that Fiat will not just rebrand their line-up to market in the US.

When Fiat brings in the Fiat 500 minicar, there is a buzz going around that it will be inevitable for the other car makers to compete with the small Italian car.

If the joint venture between the two companies pushed through, a $530-milliion transmission assembly plant would have risen in the Tipton County and jobs for 1200 people would have been created. All of these plans were dissolved after Getrag declared a bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11.

Getrag was pushed to against the wall when Chrysler LLC filed a complaint against Getrag claiming that the latter failed to get the appropriate financing.

The spotlight is on the revenue bonds sold by the Tipton County to Getrag and Chrysler. A local paper revealed that the bonds sold to the two companies amount to around $11 million.

Chrysler offered the Tipton County $5.5 million in bonds so it can cushion the impact of the dissolved deal on the community. The car manufacturer blames Getrag’s failure to set up the required financing for the deal.

Around $14.5 million worth of funds have been released by Chrysler LLC before to improve the required production framework at the Tipton County plant.

Getrag representatives declined to comment about the issue citing that they are not the ones under investigation.

Last February, the secretary of commerce of Indiana pushed for Chrysler to pay some 40 contractors using about $4 billion government bail out funds. The car manufacturer insisted that the contractors were hired by Getrag. Getrag, on the other hand, argued that Chrysler was the one to quit from the project.

These Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 models carry the engine of the previous model. The initial power comes from a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine that has 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. In addition to this, a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine with 350 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque is an option for those who want to have additional power for their heavy-duty automobile.

While there are similar designs borrowed from the light-duty Dodge Ram models, the heavy-duty versions carry a front bumper that is exclusive only for the 2500 model and especially the 3500 model that features brand new wheel fenders with advanced aerodynamic qualities.

As for the interior modifications of the heavy-duty models, an optional two-compartment console, big enough to support a laptop and several piles of paperwork is also an option you might want to consider. It also carries the top of the line interior volume system.

The models’ towing capabilities is supported by the new Electronic Range Select application that allows the driver to limit the highest gear manual and permit manual up shifts and down shifts varying on the engine speed and road feel. Restructured trailer-tow mirrors now come with bigger convex glass, puddle lamps, and memory functions.

The heavy-duty 2010 Dodge Ram models are expected to enter the market this coming fall and should have the base price of $30,000.

The car manufacturer also declared that they will decrease fixed costs by adding $700 million, cutting 100,000 more of its units of production ability, suspending three more concept array and selling $300 million more in their assets.

Chrysler assured that they will complete their viability plan by its deadline on March 31.

One of their strategic plans is to do negotiations for allowances with the United Auto Workers, dealers, debt holders and suppliers. Last year, the car manufacturer asked the federal government to provide them $7 billion loan to help the company survive until the world economy recovered. Unfortunately, the request was denied. Instead of $7 billion, the government gave them $4 billion. But before their announcement of a need of additional $2 billion, Chrysler declared they still need the remaining $3 billion to be able to cope with the global economic condition.

Aside from seeking financial aid from the government, Chrysler had already made alliances with other car manufacturers. Among those proposed partnerships is with Fiat. Under negotiated terms, they agreed that Fiat will provide Chrysler with numbers of small cars and engines. Likewise, Fiat will gain access to the US car market to introduce its products while Chrysler can have the opportunity to join in Fiat’s international markets.

From the current number of 73,000 salaried workforces, they will have a dreadful decline to a difference of 63,000 that is according to the statement made by General Motors. In the United States, approximately 3,400 of the car company’s 29,500 salaried workforces, mostly in southeast Michigan, will be removed by the first of May. These workers are eligible to receive severance pay and some financial assistance as declared by General Motors. The rest of the affected workforces will be from the European offices and from other parts of the world.

The remaining staff will experience most likely pay cut offs in between three to ten percent for the year.

These strategies are used and are presented as the latest move by General Motors to fix its operations ahead of the deadline of the viability plan to be submitted to the US government’s Department of Treasury as to preserve its agreement to provide $13.4 billion from its federal loans.

General Motors sales output last January plunged by 49 percent and according to the automaker, it is anticipated due to the economic turmoil. So with this, GM executives have decided to take initial actions for a more efficient and quick cost-cutting measures.