Chrysler says Fiat talks moving forward

By David Bailey

GENEVA (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC has reached a point in discussions over a proposed alliance with Fiat SpA (FIA.MI) that will allow the U.S. automaker to make some planning decisions on models, production locations and the timing of launches, an executive said on Tuesday.

However, Chrysler CBS.UL still has other options if the discussions fail to result in a formal alliance with Italy's Fiat, Vice Chairman Jim Press told reporters on the sidelines of the Geneva auto show.

The companies have been working toward finalizing an alliance that would give the Italian automaker a 35 percent stake in Chrysler and access to the North American auto market.

The alliance would also give Chrysler the access to small-car technology and overseas markets that it now lacks.

But Chrysler, which is under a March 31 deadline to prove to the U.S. government that it can be made viable, must obtain additional government loans before securing other options, Press said.

"We are in the process now of our due diligence phase," Press said of Fiat. "We will determine our next steps after we finalize the request we made to the U.S. government for a bridge loan. We anticipate at this stage that March 31 is when the disposition of the loan will be finalized."

Last month Chrysler asked the U.S. government for an additional $5 billion of loans to complete its turnaround, funding that is necessary for it to complete an alliance with Fiat. It has already received $4 billion of emergency loans and would need more support if markets deteriorate further.

"We are hopeful and quite positive, confident that we have met all of the requirements," Press said, "and we are currently working with the different constituents to assure that we are making the concessions necessary to be in line with the requirements to have the loan funded."