Chrysler Implores Dealers to Place Orders

In a desperate move to meet the February target of 78,000 vehicles, Chrysler is extending the last day for dealers to place new cars orders to Monday, The Detroit News wrote today quoting vice chairman Jim Press. The 30 percent of dealers who didn't take their full orders are now required to help Chrysler meet its February target and take more inventory by Monday. The American automaker has to forward a viability plan to the United States government by February 17 in order to demonstrate the authorities it can restructure sales. Chrysler is also seeking a $3 billion additional loan from the government.

"You have two choices. You can either help us or burn us all down. We've got to get the cash flow coming in so we can get to March 31 as a viable company. By doing that right now, we can begin to harvest the long-term benefits of the investments we're making,” Chrysler co-President Jim Press was quoted as saying by Autonews. "By successfully keeping the doors open in January and February, we'll get the loan," he said explaining that dealership support is absolutely mandatory to prove the government it is financially viable.

This isn't the first time when Chrysler urges dealerships to order more cars. Both GM and Chrysler said in late January that dealers across the United States must buy as many new vehicles as possible in order to demonstrate the government they can survive.

But more importantly, dealerships are fully open to talks and just like dealer owner Carl Galeana told The Detroit News, most of them are willing to support automakers to achieve their goals. Galeana said “it is imperative all dealers pitch in” to help Chrysler and expressed his confidence that the company will finally be able to reach its target.