Chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne underlined Wednesday at Chrysler's headquarters that contrary to industry speculation, the company is not burning through cash and is already reporting earnings before taxes, interest and depreciation.

"I think time will prove our forecast," Marchionne told more than 300 journalists, industry analysts, dealers, suppliers and government officials about the company's plans during the next five years. "Let us just rebuild it intelligently. Just give us space."

Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy court protection in the U.S. earlier this year with a new partner, Italy-based Fiat SpA, and billions of dollars in loans from the American and Canadian governments.

Sporting his trademark black sweater, Marchionne and more than half a dozen senior company officials spent more than seven hours outlining everything from debt repayment schedules, financial forecasts and new product launches to manufacturing changes and proactive television advertising, which started Wednesday night.

"We're convinced Chrysler can come back," Marchionne said. "It needs to be fixed, but it's not terminal."

Among a blizzard of financial forecasts, Chrysler also said it will pay back more than $14 billion in public loans to the governments by 2014, including $3.8 billion from Ottawa and Ontario.

Some analysts and politicians have indicated they don't expect Chrysler or General Motors to repay all the public money.

In reply to questions about the company's chances of hitting its rosy sales and profit targets, Marchionne, who was raised in Toronto, said it is "worldwide sport of beating people who are down."

Although Marchionne said some people at the briefings would be skeptical about Chrysler's forecasts and chances of survival, he was far more optimistic.

"It is a commitment to build an enterprise by men and women of virtue," said Marchionne, who at one point also quoted from political philosopher Machiavelli and singer Bobby McFerrin.

He said Chrysler will be increasing employment in North America in pursuit of doubling its sales on the continent and increasing market share significantly during the next five years.

In Canada, officials confirmed that the company will upgrade the Chrysler 300 model in Brampton and the Dodge Caravan minivan in Windsor for the 2010 model year.

But the cost to redesign the 300 model was high, Marchionne noted.

"You would be shocked out of your pants," he said, and wondered aloud if the company wouyld, in hindsight, invest the same amount.

Chrysler unveiled numerous product plans, including a small Fiat car that will likely be built in Mexico, an unidentified crossover vehicle – and the entry of Jeep models in many more international markets.

But the company did not provide information about other products for Brampton and Windsor.

There have been reports about Fiat moving a niche Alfa Romeo model to Brampton from Italy and producing a mini-minivan in Windsor.

Chrysler also talked about the implementation of Fiat's manufacturing system at Chrysler's North American plants.

The system emphasizes waste reduction and measures quality closely.

"There is no business as usual at Chrysler," said Chrysler chairman Bob Kidder.