UAW seeks to halt sale of Chrysler

United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger, who sits on DaimlerChrysler’s board, said Wednesday that he would press the German carmaker to keep its U.S.-based Chrysler Group unit.

Gettelfinger, speaking to reporters at Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., said the union believed that it was still an option for Daimler to retain Chrysler despite a sale process that began in February and has been credited with pushing shares of DaimlerChrysler sharply higher since.

“It’s going to be a push, but we still think that’s an option,” said Gettelfinger, who heads Chrysler’s largest union.

Chrysler Chief Executive Tom LaSorda declined to comment on the UAW’s position, saying only that all options remained open regarding the unit’s future.

Gettelfinger’s remarks came on the same day that Chrysler said it would build two plants in Michigan: a $730-million engine plant in Trenton and a $700-million axle plant in Marysville.

LaSorda said those investments, aimed at shaping a more fuel-efficient vehicle lineup, were necessary regardless of the sale process.