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What, Sergio worry?

COMMENTARY   Jason Stein is editor of Automotive News.

NEW YORK -- Everywhere Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne goes, he seems to draw a crowd.

In January, Marchionne was interrupted during an evening keynote at the Automotive News World Congress. Two separate protesters stopped his speech with messages about plant closings and Chrysler quality and launched helium-filled balloons and distributed flyers with a message about union contracts.

This morning in New York it happened again.

Less than five minutes into his speech at the NADA/IHS Global Insight Automotive Forum, about a dozen security guards forcibly removed a number of union car-hauler workers dressed as crash-test dummies. The protesters got through the door of the conference ballroom at the Marriott Marquis hotel -- barely -- when a tussle ensued.

“Sergio!” one protester yelled, as he was being escorted away. “That's $14 billion in U.S. tax dollars!”

The scuffle went on for several minutes outside the door.

Marchionne kept speaking and made no reference to the uproar.

You can reach Jason Stein at jstein@crain.com.
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