June 10 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler LLC, the third-largest U.S. automaker, had $9 billion in cash at the end of last year, Chief Executive Officer Robert Nardelli told CNBC.

``We're still in very good shape,'' Nardelli said in an interview aired by the U.S. network today, without elaborating.

The disclosure sheds some light on Chrysler's finances. The money-losing automaker hasn't been required to share financial information since being purchased by Cerberus Capital Management LP 10 months ago.

A cash level of $9 billion is ``adequate for the time being to weather current market conditions through 2008,'' said Mark Oline, a Chicago-based analyst with credit-rating company Fitch Inc. ``If we get a very deep recession in 2008 and a flat market in 2009, liquidity would become a lot less comfortable.''

Chrysler is struggling with a 19 percent sales decline in the U.S. this year as record gasoline prices drive consumers from the trucks and sport-utility vehicles that account for more than two-thirds of its U.S. sales.

Chrysler previously reported a $1.6 billion operating loss for 2007 and a $650 million net loss for 2006, when the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker was part of the former DaimlerChrysler AG.

Nardelli said he doesn't expect the economy or housing market to improve this year.

``I have to take charge to get us through 2008 and make sure we are better positioned to 2009,'' Nardelli said. ``Hopefully, we get wind in our sails.''

Nardelli reiterated that Chrysler, which has formed partnerships with Japan's Nissan Motor Co. and China's Chery Automobile Co., would consider merging with another automaker.

``If the opportunity was to present itself, we look at it,'' he said. ``We can't rely on that happening.''

In a separate conference in New York, Nardelli said Cerberus isn't second-guessing its decision to invest in Chrysler and that the automaker is hitting its financial targets.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mike Ramsey in Southfield, Michigan, at mramsey6bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 10, 2008 18:27 EDT