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Mercedes & Chrysler merger after 8 years - a wise move? - READ ONLY

17 messages,  Last post on Oct 04, 2006 at 12:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Dodge

Messages Page 3 of 3

#13 of 17 it wasn't a great fit by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 03, 2006 (4:31 pm)

I think in retrospect it was a clash of cultures and it shows.

#14 of 17 Re: it wasn't a great fit [Mr_Shiftright] by rockylee

Oct 03, 2006 (6:11 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 03, 2006 4:31 pm)
Agree....
 
Rocky

#15 of 17 Re: it wasn't a great fit [Mr_Shiftright] by graphicguy

Oct 04, 2006 (6:19 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 03, 2006 4:31 pm)
Shifty....no doubt a clash of cultures. Also, I'd throw mistrust in there, too. Schremp did nothing to alleviate the mistrust. If anything, he fostered it by pitching the merger as one of equals. When, in reality, it was a Daimler take over of Chrysler.
 
IIRC, Chrysler had a pretty big cash stash at the time of the merger. That got raided by Daimler. In turn, model plans were scuffled.
 
Today, Chrysler is known for the HEMI and trucks/Jeeps. Don't know that it plays well in today's reality.
 
MB's reputation as building the best cars in the world has gone by the wayside. Their vehicles are now rife with quality and reliability concerns.
 
Both companies have an image problem, too.
 
The DR Z campaing was disasterous for Chrysler. Whoever told Zieter that the American public wanted some obviously foreign figurehead telling them about their American vehicles should be fired.

#16 of 17 Re: it wasn't a great fit [graphicguy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 04, 2006 (9:01 am)

Replying to: graphicguy (Oct 04, 2006 6:19 am)
Even their deviant styling concepts seem to clash rather than harmonize. Chrysler has been admirably prolific in their styling (sometimes successsful, sometimes not) while Benz remains as usual very conservative. How can a company scream "we are TRENDY" and "we honor the past" in the same breath, without both branches knocking heads constantly?
 
I'm not a scholar of business but it is my impression that very VERY few of these big corporate mergers (in any field of business) have proven to be worth the trouble.

#17 of 17 Re: it wasn't a great fit [graphicguy] by scott1256

Oct 04, 2006 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: graphicguy (Oct 04, 2006 6:19 am)
MB's reputation....has gone by the wayside. Their vehicles are now rife with quality and reliability concerns
 
Is it just a coincidence that Mercedes quality and reliability problems started about the same time as the merger?

Messages Page 3 of 3

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