Tipo Jim Press dell'automobile che lascia la nuova nuova Chrysler: Car Guy Jima Pressa Leavinga The Newa Newa Chryslera - VIDEO

But First Snide's Remarks: Jim Press who is the car guy lured from Toyota by Cerberus Capital Management (the fine folks who brought you the stripping of Chrysler's assets) to be their car guru and protect their "investment" in Chrysler, is now planning on leaving the new new Chrysler now owned by Fiat.

Mr. Press was and still is The Auto Channel’s choice for CEO and Chair of the New GM. But apparently the powers that be, believe that a better choice for GM boss is an old retired ex-telephone exec from Texas, (who admittedly knows nothing about the car biz, and just happens to be a member of the Exxon Mobile board of directors).

We ask who is better suited to run "our" car company than Jim Press, the consensus best guy in the world for the GM job...oh well "we" really don't want GM to succeed anyway do we???. What do you think? msnide@theautochannel.com

WASHINGTO, DC - August 24, 2009: The AIADA newsletter reported that Chrysler Group LLC Deputy Chief Executive Jim Press is planning to leave the auto maker before the end of the year, as Fiat SpA seeks to revive the car company that two months ago emerged from bankruptcy.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Press was kept on as a special adviser to Sergio Marchionne, who now serves as CEO of both Chrysler and Fiat. Press is expected to leave Chrysler by the end of November, according to one of the people informed of the plan. The departure comes two months after Mr. Marchionne's initial management shakeup, which created a flatter structure of 23 executives, including Press, reporting directly to him.

In his current position, Press – unlike the three executives in charge of the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands – doesn't have any direct operational control over departments that Marchionne is concentrating on to lead the turnaround.

In his 37-year career at Toyota, the Kansas native became a powerful figure, exerting influence over all aspects of Toyota's U.S. sales unit and building a strong reputation among auto dealers.

Eventually, he became the first non-Japanese elected to the company's board of directors.

Click PLAY to watch The Auto Channel's exclusive coverage of Jim Press' presentation
at the Western Automotive Journalist's meeting in Sept. 2008