This being a blog and all, I thought I would play armchair CEO and come up with some additions to Marchionne's plan (Mr. Marchionne, use these if you like; I'm not looking for a big cut of the profits -- enough to pay off my student loans and buy the Bengals, that's all).

First, the move to report earnings on a regular basis is excellent; it keeps things out in the open for your investors and the American public. I also think you need to allow the public to have a say in what they want/need in a car. Survey potential car buyers, see if they are looking for gas efficiency or cargo room -- then shift your auto line accordingly. If more people say they will buy Town & Country minivans than Sebring convertibles, make more minivans.

I also think that Chrysler needs to do away with some of its models. I mean, Jeep should produce just that, Jeeps. Not Compasses or Liberties. Just Wranglers and Cherokees -- that will help cut costs and keep some of the biggest sellers in the product rotation.

Perhaps the biggest change would be to cut costs to the consumer. Cars cost a pretty penny nowadays, and unfortunately many people can't afford a new car. If you can lower the cost of car ownership, then you could attract more new customers and you could keep the customers you have.

Help implement these changes and you could not only help your company, but the car industry as a whole.