Car company says it can turn a profit this year. Critics aren’t so confident.
Chrysler predicts it could turn a profit if there’s even a slight up-tick in sales this year. But to many, that’s wishful thinking. Some wonder if the cuts it made to its workforce, in areas from accounting to engineering, were too deep, and not carefully thought through. Some departments are said to be gutted and scrambling to find people to cover necessary work. Executives are now doing jobs that used to be done by three people. Chrysler’s success likely hinges on its deal with Fiat—and its ability to sell Fiat-engineered cars in America‹and a market upturn. But none of that is a sure bet. For Chrysler, there are a whole lot of “ifs” standing between it and a solid future.