Even after Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy reorganization summer 2009, there were murmurs that the embattled automaker might not survive in this cutthroat global economy, that the recession might have delivered the deathblow to the runt of the Big Three.
What a difference a year makes.
Proving the naysayers wrong, the new Chrysler Group LLC reported a preliminary net income of $183 million for full-year 2011, a dramatic improvement from its loss of $652 million in 2010.
The swing to the black includes a $551 million loss stemming from Chrysler's repayment of government bailout loans to the United States and Canada, some six years early, the company noted. Excluding the charge, adjusted net income for full-year 2011 was $734 million, beating the company's 2011 guidance.
"Chrysler is the surprising comeback kid -- again," commented Edmunds.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs. "When Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, there were plenty of skeptics, but the automaker has proven them wrong.
"Since detailing its plan for the future in November 2009, Chrysler has done everything it said it would, creating an impressive recent track record and providing confidence that it will meet its 2012 goals."
The turnaround is another feather in the cap of Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne, whose company now holds a 58% stake in Chrysler.
- Full-year net revenue of $55 billion, up 31% from 2010.
- Fourth-quarter net revenue of $15.1 billion, up 41% year-over-year.
- Full-year free-cash flow of $1.9 billion, driving cash at year-end 2011 to $9.6 billion, up from $7.3 billion a year prior.
- Worldwide vehicle shipments of 2 million units for full-year 2011, up from 1.6 million units in 2010.
