Detroit Three's survival report card

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Prospects

Chrysler: Stalled for now, it is difficult to see Chrysler picking up speed again, given the weakness of its product line and the overall car market. If a Fiat deal is consummated, the Italian automaker may just be picking up pieces of the fractured company.
Grade: D-

Ford: Should its new European small cars become a hit and industry sales recover, it could escape danger. True competitiveness with global powerhouses like Toyota and Volkswagen is a ways off, however.
Grade: C

General Motors: Buried inside GM are the bones of a strong auto company. Getting at them, however, may be so time consuming and costly that there is no longer any muscle to hold them together.
Grade: D

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