It is on the web so it must be true.

Chrysler is committed to Sprinter through at least 2011. Fiat does have a similar offering, but since Sprinter is now established and is doing well overall, they may opt to continue that arrangement with Mercedes. Sprinter’s diesel gets Bluetec starting in 2010. http://www.allpar.com/reviews/2010/preview.html

Hopefully the 4×4 full time drive will come to the US also. I have a beautiful brochure from the UK advertising, among other things, that option.

Although I am less than pleased with the government’s bail-out of the auto industry I will be glad to see another European brand on the road. Fiat makes a wide range of cars and is way ahead of Detroit on fuel economy.

The question for Sprinter owners is will Chrysler continue to sell Sprinters? The Sprinter is manufactured by Mercedes in Europe, taken apart to ship to the US and then re-assembled.

Iveco, a subsidiary of Fiat is a very large truck maker and has wanted to break into the US market for some time. Does the deal with Fiat include all the components of the Fiat Group? If so, the Sprinter will have to find a new home.

Many say Freightliner which also sells Sprinter in the US under their brand will be the new contact point. The only thing wrong with that is Freightliner in not in every state and certainly will not be convenient to travel to for a warranty problem.

I fear we will once again be camping in an orphaned vehicle like our 2002 VW Eurovan.

Chrysler (a sensitive subject for Sprinter owners), in deep trouble but with $11 million in the bank is very likely to merge, join, partner, dance with GM who is basically broke. They have asked the government for a part of our money – a bailout to help them accomplish this get-to-gather. Why? The stockholders will loose as well as the employees and dealers of both companies. Don’t add the taxpayers to the list!

According to the Wall Street Journal, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler LLC are lobbying the Bush administration to siphon off a portion of the bailout money to help fund their proposed merger. Chrysler, which is majority-owned by hedge fund Cerberus Capital Management, would end up being gobbled up by GM in a complex deal that would require about $10 billion to cover integration expenses.

Who benefits here? The #1 benefactor is Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus is a private equity firm that owns 80.1% of Chrysler and 51% of GMAC Financial Services. In fact, it was Cerberus who first made the proposal of trading Chrysler’s automotive operations to GM. The Journal said Cerberus would receive GM’s remaining 49 percent stake in GMAC.

Cerberus is managed by John William Snow, who was Secretary of the Treasury under George W. Bush, from February 03 through June 06. He resigned and was appointed CEO of Cerberus in October, 2006. He benefits big time from this bailout.

Also to profit will be JPMorgan Chase since they hold a big portion of Chrysler debt. You may note that Morgan was bailed out in June by the Fed allowing them to take over BearStearns for pennies and later in September by the Fed allowing them to take over WaMu. In both these take overs WaMu and BearStearns shareholders and certain bondholders were wiped out. It pays to have friends in high places.

While no money for Main Street has been sighted, money is flowing but the pipeline is well guarded and being siphoned off here and there. We Sprinter owners don’t need to worry about where we will find service. The way things are going we won’t be able to afford it anyway.