Chrysler CEO encouraged by task force progress

Chrysler LLC Chief Executive Bob Nardelli said Tuesday that he's encouraged by the focus of President Barack Obama's auto industry task force on job preservation, but he added that all options for Chrysler are still being considered.

Nardelli said during an appearance on cable network CNBC that the task force hasn't told him that a bankruptcy protection filing at Chrysler is out of the question.

"No they haven't said that," Nardelli said. "What they have said is that they're very intent on preserving, you know, 40,000 or 50,000 direct jobs."

Nardelli said it's crucial that Chrysler get some kind of an indication by March 31 as to if its request for $5 billion in federal aid will be granted, adding that the denial of the aid would be "devastating" for the automaker.

Steven Rattner, a top adviser to the task force, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that the task force was trying to successfully restructure the auto makers during a difficult economic downturn....More

Lauer Interviews GM's CEO, UAW President

UAW, Automaker Contract Negotiations Set For Monday

DETROIT - TODAY Show's Matt Lauer interviewed General Motors Corp.'s CEO Rick Wagoner and United Auto Worker President Ron Gettlefinger at the GM Tech Center in Warren Thursday.

The interview came days before union and automaker leaders are scheduled to begin contract negotiations Monday as a required stipulation under Washington's billion-dollar bridge loan to the GM, Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Company.

The $13.4 billion federal loan package granted to GM last month requires that the UAW make concessions and also demands that GM submit a restructuring plan to the government by March 31....More