Chrysler asks dealers to order 15K more cars

Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press made a second plea to dealers today, asking them to buy 15,000 more vehicles by Monday. Press said the company needs the orders to remain viable.

Pulling no punches, Press told dealers, “You have two choices: you can either help us or burn us all down.”

Company executives said 70 percent of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers have already responded to the initial January 24 request for 78,000 orders over and above what they had been allocated for February.

“We’ve got to get the cash flow coming in so we can get to March 31 as a viable company,” Press said in a conference call. “By doing that right now, we can begin to harvest the long-term benefits of the investments we’re making.”

Press added, “By successfully keeping the doors open in January and February, we’ll get the loan,” referring to additional $3 billion Chrysler has requested from the federal government. Chrysler must submit a plan detailing its path to once again becoming a viable company by February 17.