Titolo: 18:50 WSJ UPDATE: Chrysler To Generate $2B In Cash In 2012 -Marchionne
Testo: (Adds cars sales, operating profit forecast for 2012 in second paragraph.)
By Jeff Bennett
Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
DETROIT (Dow Jones)--Chrysler Group LLC will generate $2 billion in free cash flow, more than double than 2011 as sales of its new car and trucks continue to strengthen.
Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said the auto maker, which had filed for bankruptcy in 2009, is running ahead of its recovery plan as the U.S. economy continues to recover and international sales continue to expand. He confirmed plans to sell 2.4 million cars worldwide in 2012 andreach an operating profit of $3 billion.
"The machine is doing well and the house (Chrysler) is in good order," Marchionne said on the sidelines of the North American International Auto Show Monday."
The comments come on the same day Chrysler introduced the new Dodge Dart to compete in the U.S. small car market. The Dart is the first vehicle to be joint produced by Fiat SpA (F.MI, FIATY) and Chrysler. Fiat owns a 58.5% stake in Chrysler.
(This story and related background material will be available on The Wall Street Journal website, WSJ.com.)
Separately, Marchionne reduced his forecast for Fiat 500 sales saying he now expects about 40,000 of the subcompact cars to be sold in the U.S. and Canada annually. He had expected about 50,000.
The revision comes after a poor debut for the Fiat 500 which was introduced last year before the dealer network was put into place which Marchionne called a mistake. Sales for the Fiat 500 finishedat 19,769 for the year in the U.S.
"I''ll take the hit on that issue, cause I own the company but I am also the guy that opened up the markets for Chrysler in Latin American and China."
Marchionne said he is still waiting on the $3.5 billion in low-interest loans promised to the company from the Department of Energy. Chrysler plans to plow that money into development of more fuel efficient vehicles. The DOE has been slow to respond to Chrysler''s loan request and has yet to provide any reasons.
, io ho preso un'altro cip di OIL