The news for Chrysler the first few days of 2009 was especially bleak: despite getting three billion dollars in federal funding, the automaker would have a tough time surviving beyond the first quarter without a second injection of cash. Even though a new Congress has been seated and a new president has taken office, there isn’t any guarantee that politicians will want to help Chrysler out beyond the initial loan amount. Constituents are angry as they see private businesses and public corporations bailed out while struggling to make their own mortgage payments, hold down a job, and pay the bills.
Chrysler recently announced a strategic alliance with Fiat, a deal which could bring as many as seven Fiat and Alfa …