Cerberus Capital Management may sell some of Chrysler's non-automotive units, according to Bloomberg. The units in question are Mopar, Chrysler's famous service and parts producer, and Chrysler Transport, which manages deliveries to the automaker's plants. Cerberus assumed 80% ownership of Chrysler from DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DAI) on August 3. Cerberus is now engaged in contract talks with the United Auto Workers as it looks for ways to cut costs. The union is reportedly opposed to the sales for fear of job losses; the units employ roughly 1,300 unionized workers. Chrysler's four-year contract with the UAW expires on September 14.
Analysts are saying that the sale of the units would allow Cerberus to focus on Chrysler's core business of making cars and trucks, and help raise much-needed cash. But Mopar is hardly a peripheral unit. Chrysler has been using the term to refer to its parts since the 1920s, and Mopar has long been virtually synonymous with the automaker. This is especially true when it comes to high performance cars, including the famous muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s -- the Barracuda, the Super Bee, the Road Runner -- that Chrysler is trying to revive. So you have to wonder if this is a good move in the long run. Let's hope that Chrysler doesn't lose what makes it unique and desirable to car lovers as it works to return to profitability.
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