Chrysler CEO says company will rehire production workers if own sales projections are met

Chrysler may rehire workers if sales forecasts met

DETROIT — Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the automaker will start hiring production workers again if it sells enough cars and trucks.

Marchionne said at the Detroit auto show Monday that Chrysler Group LLC is revamping its models and will need more engineering and development workers. He says the company doesn’t have the manpower at present to accomplish what it wants to do.

He didn’t give a time frame for hiring more production workers but says it will depend on meeting its own sales projections.

Marchionne also says Chrysler still has cash reserves and is performing slightly better than expected despite a very difficult 2009.

He adds that this year is a make-it-or-break-it year for Fiat’s Alfa Romeo brand. But he stopped short of saying the brand would be sold.