Detroit Auto Show: Lecture by Prof. Marchionne

[divideandconquer]

Detroit Auto Show: Lecture by Prof. Marchionne

DETROIT — Sergio Marchionne says he was a little unfair to the Congressional delegation, headed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that visited the auto show Monday when he led them into a display for a lecture that lasted more than 15 minutes.

“I felt a little bit sorry for them,” said the Chrysler Group and Fiat SpA chief executive, who trapped the audience of more than a dozen legislators for a vigorous talk held on a display platform between a Fiat 500 and an Abarth version of the car. The topic in the impromptu classroom, with boundaries patrolled by Secret Service agents, was an outline of recovery steps for Chrysler with Fiat and the business of auto making in the United States.

Watching reporters couldn’t catch the words, but certainly saw the vigor of Mr. Marchionne’s delivery. Rep. Sander Levin, Democrat of Michigan, said afterward that it was refreshing to get a frank discussion from the no-nonsense Mr. Marchionne. “I think there was some question about the marriage between the companies,” Mr. Levin said. “Those questions are answered. This isn’t just a marriage of convenience, or temporary.”
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<http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/detroit-auto-show-lecture-by-prof-marchionne/>

Marchionne is the closest person there can be to a Steve Jobs in the modern car business. Sergio and his staff work 7 days a week and his office is in the middle of the engineering floor. It's a damn good bet that Chrysler will repay the money and make America proud.