Chrysler, despite its long odds, is doing surprisingly well under Fiat ownership.
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Despite all this he accepts Chrysler will make another loss in 2007, although, he hopes, a smaller one.
DaimlerChrysler 's (nyse: DCX - news - people ) domestic operations made piles of money in the mid-1990s despite below-average quality, because Dodge and Chrysler minivans were the cleverest on the road, and Jeep's SUVs were the coolest.
But manufacturing employment fell by more than expected (down 15, 000 compared with a 10, 000 expectation), while the auto business shed 8, 000 jobs (despite a strong month for General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, as Steve Schaefer reported).
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While the gains came across the board, the issue of fuel economy appeared to be on the backburner despite higher gasoline prices: Ford Motor, General Motors and Chrysler all touted strong pickup sales as a key growth driver in August.
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Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and Nissan all reported double-digit sales growth, despite the continuing shaky economic picture.
Chrysler is reviewing options to allow it to build Jeeps in Russia next year despite the lack of agreement on a production site with its joint-venture partner.
Chrysler also posted earnings, with a deeper loss as compared to last year despite rising revenue, as the automaker pays the U.S. and Canadian government for their bailouts.
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Chrysler capped off its best October in five years, with sales rising 10% despite the three-day disruption of Hurricane Sandy. (Ford, for example, despite estimating that the storm cost the industry 20, 000 to 25, 000 sales, reported a small sales increase.) With gas prices declining and consumer sentiment rising, experts expect automotive manufacturers to experience gains into 2013.
Dennis Gusick, who owns a distribution business that serves automotive customers, said he voted for Mr. Romney despite the former governor's opposition to the federal aid given to General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.
Despite pouring billions of dollars into the American firm, Daimler could never quite get its Mercedes brand to mesh with Chrysler's.
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