Will the Germans Sell Chrysler?

As Chrysler Group runs deep losses, the stamina of the German owner, DaimlerChrysler, is being questioned.

Will it stay the course, or is it already thinking of withdrawal? Here are some questions and predictions.

Q. Will the Germans really sell Chrysler one day?

A. Yes, it could happen, but no time soon; not as long at Dieter Zetsche is chairman of DaimlerChrysler. He came to Detroit and spent years here turning around Chrysler. That triumph propelled him to the top job in Stuttgart, and he’s not likely to give up the scene of his victory.

Q. Why would the Germans sell?

A. Not because Chrysler is losing money or in trouble. Daimler will sell off Chrysler when the German side of the company is in deep trouble; when Mercedes is losing in Europe to Lexus or BMW; when needs new capital to rebuild. Chrysler would be sold to save Daimler from its own errors over there, not because of losses over here.

Q. Who would be the buyer?

A. Despite Carlos Ghosn, Renault doesn’t have the money to buy Chrysler, and Nissan has plenty of capacity in North America, well over 1 million units at plants in Tennessee, Mississippi and Mexico. What would be the point of adding more?

The buyer of Chrysler in the distant future will be an American, a man of immense wealth; someone like Bill Gates or Warren Buffet; someone who always wanted to own a car company (just as some men always want to own a football team) or has a patriotic feeling about saving American manufacturing. If Chrysler is sold, it will come home and be private.

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EL34 - 11/20/2006 5:09:44 PM

-2 Boost

First off typing in all caps is obnoxious and tell us more about your business degree.

EL34 - 11/20/2006 7:01:47 PM

-2 Boost

Yeah but the front of the LS 460 looks like the front of the Camry.

Not good, cutie.

MercBasher - 11/20/2006 3:09:38 PM

+1 Boost

I think Chrysler might be more successful if not affiliated with Mercedes. Afterall which blind bats at DCX approved the newest Jeep models and the extraordinarily ugly Chrysler Sebring replacement?

courtstone - 11/20/2006 4:27:30 PM

+2 Boost

MercBasher - I will have to second your motion about the horrible rendition of the new Chrysler Sebring. I can't think of one thing that I like about the car...maybe the cold/hot cupholders. I honestly think that DCX really dropped the ball on the Sebring. If there was ever a time when penetrating the mid-size sedan market was important, the time is now. To me Chrysler has failed, that car will not sell. If its not better than the Accord, Camry, Sonata or Fusion then its no use. Is this the same company that produced the 300c?

S4cabriofoxone - 11/20/2006 5:29:02 PM

+1 Boost

I completely agree. A half-hearted effort by Chrysler. Although, ironically, they tried TOO hard with the styling. It doesn't even come off as "bold"- just ugly.

The 300 and the Sebring can also be cross-shopped. Similar sizes and power (for the V6s), but very different style.

Bill - 11/20/2006 7:10:39 PM

+4 Boost

You guys are ignoring the fact that most buyers in this class are concerned about value, not style. I personally think the Sebring doesn't look too bad. It won't sell on style, but on value, features etc. Chrysler won't go under because of a bad design.

A lot of ugly cars sell because they're affordable and give people what they want: transportation. Look at the Toyota Camry. Ugly as sin, yet it sells.


Yeah MercBasher, Chrysler would be better off with Toyota. Yeah man, yeah...

aznstuart - 11/20/2006 5:09:09 PM

+4 Boost

I think Chrysler should stop all this rebadging crap. Do they really think Americans are that stupid? The brand, Chrysler, has no identity. It tried going upcale but failed with the Pacifica and Crossfire. They are in that spot where they are just a tab more expensive than Dodge. And Dodge has all the vehicles Chrysler sells and they all look about the same so why would people buy a Chrysler? Brand prestige is definitely zilch.

When Chrysler started rebadging and expanding the lineup of each brand, they started running into problems. I mean, c'mon, the Jeep Compass? Give me a break. They should keep Jeep exclusive and not try expanding the line-up with brand-killing models like the Compass.

The RWD and V8 was a good move. Now they just have to keep at it and slowly move up in price. And their final goal would be to be like Cadillac.

Let Dodge stay where it is and keep Jeep off-roading SUVs and Trucks.

Chrysler could survive on its own with the right moves. And it doesn't need mergers or anything either.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/20/2006 5:27:29 PM

-1 Boost

Hopefully.

2JZSoarer - 11/20/2006 11:18:37 PM

0 Boost

Mercedes/Chrysler same crap,both have crapy reliability!!

JUGNU - 11/21/2006 4:36:15 AM

-1 Boost

Sell it to GM.They know how to deal with it.
BTW HAHAHAHA

JUGNU

theman - 11/21/2006 8:46:58 AM

+1 Boost

The best automobile brand in the world should not be associated with anything american..

audirevolution - 11/21/2006 4:06:49 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, they should.
MB buying chrysler helped chrysler greatly.
However, it think it did more harm to benz than good.

Homer008 - 11/22/2006 2:35:37 AM

+1 Boost

Daimler will sell off Chrysler when the German side of the company is in deep trouble; when Mercedes is losing in Europe to Lexus or BMW <-------BAM, A F..KING BULL'S EYE!!!!!! He stated "When" not "If" in his statement.

sheepdog

S4cabriofoxone - 11/22/2006 11:44:49 AM

-1 Boost

Mercedes, BMW and Lexus are all trailing Audi in Europe... 2006 sales, homer.

Lexus isn't even close. They're probably the slowest-selling luxury brand in Europe.

I saw 1 Lexus my entire time in England.

nine - 11/22/2006 5:03:13 AM

+2 Boost

It going to be a bit hard. Daimler CHRYSLER. What would they call themselves then? Daimler Mercedes? Daimler Smart - Smart Daimler? Daimler Maybach? Though Chryslers look ugly - how about the Voyager (Town & Country for AU) - it looks disgusting. The Crossfire looks like something has dropped on it or some 4 year old designed it - and how about their engines. But i dont know who would buy them, and whether Daimler - CHRYSLER - would sell Chrysler.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/22/2006 11:45:29 AM

+1 Boost

They'd call themselves what they called themselves BEFORE they bought Chrysler!

Daimler-Benz!