Chrysler Predicted to Breakeven in 2004

MILAN, March 22, 2004; Reuters reported that U.S. automaker Chrysler, part of the DaimlerChrysler group, expects to break even in 2004 or post a small profit, its chief executive and president, Dieter Zetsche, was quoted as saying on Monday.

In an interview with Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper, Zetsche was also quoted as saying Chrysler was aiming to take one percent of the European car market in the next three years from 0.7 percent now.

"I believe 2004 will be a positive year for us and I expect to break even or make a small profit, even with our restructuring costs," Zetsche was quoted as saying.

Chrysler, which owns the Jeep and Dodge marques, failed to meet its target to break even last year and made an operating loss of 506 million euros, including 469 million euros of restructuring costs.