Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said on Monday it will be difficult for the automaker to turn a net profit for the full year 2010.

Marchionne did not offer guidance for Chrysler's financial performance for either the third or fourth quarter of the year.

The No. 3 U.S. automaker, which emerged from a U.S. government-supported bankruptcy in June 2009 under the management control of Italy's Fiat SpA, narrowed its net loss to $172 million in the second quarter, from a $197 million net loss in the first quarter.

Marchionne said that Chrysler's plans to ask existing Chrysler dealerships to add to their showrooms to show Fiat autos is well ahead of plan. The automaker has far more than the company target of 200 dealers to take on selling Fiats.

On the company's performance in general, Marchionne said he is satisfied and that the company is well ahead of plan for its turnaround after the bankruptcy.

General Motors Co GM.UL which also underwent a government-sponsored bankruptcy, has filed papers for an initial public offering of its stock, in a sale that could occur in about three months.

Marchionne did not make any remarks about a Chrysler IPO, but in the past has said he will wait to see how the GM IPO fares.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall, editing by Matthew Lewis)

Chrysler